Elsevier

Applied Nursing Research

Volume 14, Issue 4, November 2001, Pages 187-192
Applied Nursing Research

Original Articles
Nurses' attitudes and practices in sickle cell pain management

https://doi.org/10.1053/apnr.2001.26783Get rights and content

Abstract

Professional objectivity should be the primary focus of patient care. Health care professionals are at times reluctant to give opioids out of fear that patients may become addicted, which would result in the undertreatment of pain. The influence of nurses' attitudes on the management of sickle cell pain was studied. The variables of age, education, area of practice, and years of active experience were considered. Of the respondents, 63% believed addiction was prevalent, and 30% were hesitant to administer high-dose opioids. Study findings suggest that nurses would benefit from additional education on sickle cell disease, pain assessment and management, and addiction. Educational recommendations are discussed.

References (0)

Cited by (89)

  • Chronic Pain: Prevalence and Management

    2022, Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America
    Citation Excerpt :

    As is true of chronic pain in general, people with SCD have few if any signs that correlate with their chronic pain severity. Simultaneously, provider attitudes toward patients with SCD are notoriously negative,96–100 with exceptional levels of suspicion for addiction and deception. These biases affect care decisions and contribute to high levels of patient–provider distrust and negative interactions.101–103

View all citing articles on Scopus

This work was supported by the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program Grant P60HL-3839 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

View full text