Pain Assessment Practice and Associated Factors Among Nurses Working in Public Hospitals of West Hararge Zone, Eastern Ethiopia, 2023

Background Pain assessment is a fundamental aspect of nursing care. Problems in applying pain assessment principles are more severe in low-income countries. This study aimed to assess pain assessment practice and associated factors among nurses working at the adult care unit at a public Hospital in West Hararghe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia, 2023. Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July 15 to August 15, 2023, among 394 randomly selected nurses working in adult care units at public hospitals in West Hararghe Zone. A structured self-administered questionnaire and chart review were used for data collection. Pain assessment practice was evaluated using 8 “yes/no” questions, and total scores were computed. Nurses scoring ≥70% were categorized as having adequate practice, while those scoring below 70% were considered to have poor practice. Data was entered into EpiData version 3.1software and exported to the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 26 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with pain assessment practice, with significance interpreted at p-value <0.05. Results The overall self-reported pain assessment practice among study participants was found to be 63.5% (95% CI: 59.0% - 68.0%). Work experience of >5 years [AOR: 3.13 (95% CI: 1.21-8.14)], knowledge of pain assessment [AOR: 4.25 (95% CI: 2.51-7.18)], attitude towards pain assessment [AOR: 3.43 (95% CI: 2.05-5.72)], and having in-service training on pain assessment [AOR: 3.58 (95% CI: 1.05-12.23) were significantly associated with pain assessment practices. Conclusion The study revealed that a moderate level of pain assessment practice was reported among participants, indicating room for improvement in clinical settings. Work experience, knowledge, positive attitudes toward pain assessment, and in-service training are significantly associated with pain assessment practice. These findings highlight the importance of enhancing healthcare workers’ knowledge, attitudes, and training programs to improve pain assessment practices.