Medical and Health Sciences

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Browsing Medical and Health Sciences by Author "Abu Asba, Lamees"

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    KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE amp; PRACTICE TOWARD NEONATAL PAIN ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT IN NICUS OF TWO HOSPITALS IN WEST BANK : EVALUATION OF EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS FOR NICU NURSES
    (An-Najah National University, 2025-08-12) Abu Asba, Lamees
    Introduction : Neonatal pain is a critical concern in NICUs, as unmanaged pain can lead to serious short- and long-term developmental consequences. Despite growing awareness, effective pain assessment and management remain inadequate. This study highlights the importance of addressing neonatal pain and explores the key challenges faced by NICU nurses, including limited knowledge, lack of standardized assessment tools, insufficient training, and heavy workloads. Overcoming these barriers through targeted education, clear protocols, and institutional support is essential to improving neonatal outcomes and ensuring high-quality, evidence-based care. Aim : To investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of NICU nurses in the West Bank, as it has a limited number of studies conducted in this region toward neonatal pain assessment and management, as well as to identify the barriers that hinder effective pain assessment & management in this population. In addition, it aims to evaluate the effectiveness of educational sessions provided to these nurses, with the goal of improving clinical practice performance and neonatal pain care outcomes. Method : This study employed a quasi-experimental pre-test–post-test multicentre design, conducted in two hospitals in the Jenin area of the West Bank—Al-Khalil Suleiman Governmental Hospital and Al-Razi Private Hospital—with a voluntary sample of 50 NICU nurses. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire covering demographics, knowledge, attitudes, practices, and perceived barriers related to neonatal pain assessment and management. Educational sessions were held over two days, combining lectures and practical training on neonatal pain physiology, assessment tools, and management strategies. The questionnaire was re-administered in two phases: the first, three days post-intervention (assessing knowledge and attitudes), and the second, three months later (full questionnaire), to evaluate both immediate and long-term effects of the sessions. Results : The study demonstrated significant improvements in NICU nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding neonatal pain assessment and management following educational sessions. Knowledge increased from 52% to 82% immediately post-intervention and remained at 74.6% after three months, while attitude scores rose from 63.4% to 87.9%, then stabilized at 73.3%. Practice scores improved from 27.5% to 52.4%, and perceived barriers decreased from 69.8% to 56%, with personal and organizational barriers also showing notable reductions. A positive correlation was found between knowledge and attitude, and a statistically significant negative correlation (r = –0.372, p = 0.008) was observed between knowledge and barriers, indicating that increased knowledge helped reduce perceived barriers. No significant relationships were found between demographics and knowledge, attitudes, or barriers, except for practice, which was significantly associated with education level—diploma-holding nurses scored higher than those with a baccalaureate or higher degree. Conclusion : This study highlights the positive impact of targeted educational interventions on improving NICU nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding neonatal pain assessment and management. The findings demonstrate that enhanced knowledge not only fosters more positive attitudes but also helps reduce perceived barriers in clinical practice. While demographic variables showed limited influence, education level was significantly associated with practice outcomes. These results emphasize the importance of continuous professional development and structured training programs to empower nurses and ensure more effective, evidence-based neonatal pain care.