A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Implementation and Evaluation of a Pediatric Pain Assessment Educational Program (PPAEP) for Nurses in a Resource‐Limited Setting: A Pilot Study




AuthorsKusi Amponsah, Abigail; Hammond, Charles Kumi; Bam, Victoria; Gyamfi, Douglas; Armah, Jerry; Wilson, Dorothy; Annobil, Faithful; Badengo, Daniel Ba‐Eebu; Danquah, Charlotte Boachie; Dompim, Joana Kyei; Axelin, Anna; Nawagi, Faith; Mukherjee, Snighda

Publication year2026

Journal: Paediatric and Neonatal Pain

Article numbere70027

Volume8

Issue2

eISSN2637-3807

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1002/pne2.70027

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingOpen Access

Publication channel's open availability Open Access publication channel

Web address https://doi.org/10.1002/pne2.70027

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/522959641

Self-archived copy's licenceCC BY NC ND

Self-archived copy's versionPublisher`s PDF


Abstract

Nurses play a vital role in pediatric pain assessment and management. However, nurses' limited competencies in pain management have been identified as one of the barriers to optimal pediatric pain care. Therefore, this study aimed to implement and evaluate an educational program and changes in nurses' pediatric pain assessment knowledge and attitudes (PPAKA), self-efficacy, and the program's acceptability. Guided by Kirkpatrick's model of evaluation, a one-group pre-post study was conducted among 20 nurses working at the children's unit of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Hospital in Ghana. The pediatric pain assessment educational program (PPAEP) was delivered to the nurses by a pediatric pain nurse researcher in a one-time training session. Participants' pediatric pain assessment knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy were assessed before and after the educational program, whereas the program's acceptability was assessed only after the training session. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed to evaluate changes in knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy following the educational program. Acceptability was presented using descriptive statistics. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed that nurses' PPAKA scores significantly increased after participating in the educational program (z = −2.514, p = 0.012). The standard PPAKA score increased from 63 at pre-test to 78 at post-test. Participants' self-reported efficacy in assessing pediatric pain was also significantly higher at post-test than at pre-test (z = −3.967, p < 0.001). The standard self-efficacy score increased from 58.6 at pre-test to 87.7 at post-test. Participants were satisfied and gave positive feedback on the program. A brief PPAEP is acceptable among nurses in a resource-constrained setting and is associated with improvement in pediatric pain assessment knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy. Future multi-site studies using larger samples and more rigorous designs, such as randomized controlled trials, are needed to evaluate the program's effectiveness.


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Funding information in the publication
This work was supported by the College of Health Sciences, KNUST.


Last updated on 22/04/2026 11:18:55 AM