Abstract

Introduction: Pain is a mental and multi-dimension phenomena, which its measurement and definition are difficult. Inability in expressing the pain clearly is the fundamental reason for the difficulty in pain measuring. Since newborns are unable to express their pains, to evaluate their pain quantitatively, valid, and standard tools should be used. The present study aimed to investigate the understanding of nurses about babies' pain in neonatal and special neonatal units of hospitals in Khoy. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study which was performed on 66 people by census method on nurses working in neonatal units and special neonatal units of Qamar Monir Bani Haeshem Hospital. Tool for collecting data includes 5 parts questionnaires containing demographic information, 7 questions related to understanding the pain of babies, 10 questions related to the effects of pain, 9 questions related to the tools of measuring the pain with criterion (true, false, I do not know), and the final part with 28 questions related to the attitude of measuring the pain in infants (I agree, I disagree). To determine the validity of the tool content validity was used and to determine the reliability Cronbach's alpha correlation test and preliminary study were performed (alpha = 0.82, alpha = 0.86). After coding, the data were described in frequency, mean, and standard deviation table using SPSS Version 16 software. To analyze the data statistical tests such as Pearson's correlation, t-test, and ANOVA were used (P < 0.05). Results: The majority of the participants were married (97) with Bachelor education degree (95) working in neonatal unit (45.5) with a mean age of 33 years and servicing year of 8 years. The awareness rate of the physiology of pain, with the highest prevalence of 42.2, complications and pain intensity by 45.5 were at good levels, and tools for measuring pain with 54.6 were poor. Nurses' attitude toward assessing and measuring the pain of babies with 54.5 was positive. Investigating the statistical relationships between the attitudes of nurses and awareness of severity and complications of pain (P <= 0.001), between the age and awareness of severity and complications of pain (P <= 0.002), and between the servicing year and awareness of pain physiology, severity, and complications of pain (P <= 0.003), significant statistical difference was found. Discussion and Conclusion: Based the results, focusing on pain of the babies and the infants in nursing education programs, holding the continuing education courses regarding the pain and pain assessment, and attaching pain assessment checklist for monitoring vital signs checklist and reporting it in each shift are recommended.