[Treatment of acute pain in a general hospital: opinions of physicians and nurses]

Abstract

A survey was carried amongst physicians and nurses of a general hospital, in order to know their opinion about acute pain treatment. Out of 106 physicians and 153 nurses questioned, 72 and 105 respectively answered the questionnaire. Two thirds of them though that analgesic treatment was currently good, although, it could be improved if they increased their knowledge about it. Twenty nine per cent of physicians thought that their patients were receiving lower doses than what they had prescribed and that this fact could be responsible for the treatment failure. Those questioned believed that approximately 30% of patients treated with opium derivatives for over a week could develop addiction problems. Our study confirmed the existence of inadequate attitudes towards the need for analgesics in patients with acute pain.