Why you should read this article:

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To understand that the assessment and management of pain in acute hospitals is often suboptimal

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To be aware that gaps in healthcare professionals’ knowledge contribute to inadequate pain management

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To emphasise the importance of targeted education in improving knowledge of pain assessment and management

The assessment and management of pain in acute hospitals has been shown to be suboptimal in literature dating back to the 1950s. Inadequate pain management is thought to be partly due to knowledge gaps and suboptimal attitudes among healthcare professionals regarding pain assessment and management. The literature focuses on measuring and comparing knowledge scores, but it is necessary to understand where the knowledge gaps are and how to fill them. This article presents the findings of an evaluation project conducted across the acute sector of a district general teaching hospital. The project aimed to improve knowledge and attitudes, among nurses, regarding pain assessment and management with a targeted educational intervention.