Nurses’ Perceived Barriers of Optimal Pain Management of Children With Sickle Cell Disease

Abstract

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the barriers and lack of knowledge perceived by pediatric nurses in managing pain in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). DesignA descriptive, cross-sectional design was employed. MethodsIn this study, 298 nurses aged between 21 and 53 years from 10 hospitals in the northern and middle regions of Jordan completed a structured, self-reporting questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. ResultsNurses identified 12 perceived barriers to optimal pain management in children with SCD. The top three barriers included workload (mean rating of 7.29/10), absence of psychological support for children (mean rating of 7.13/10), and insufficient time (mean rating of 6.83/10). A lack of knowledge and training about SCD pain was also recognized as a significant barrier. Regarding nurses’ perceptions of their understanding of SCD in children, less than half (41%-46%) believed they had adequate knowledge. Only 23% of nurses had received education on pain management, and only 6% had received structured education on caring for patients with SCD. ConclusionsSystem-related challenges, such as heavy workloads and limited time, were significant obstacles that prevented healthcare providers from prioritizing pain management for children with SCD. Clinical ImplicationsTo reduce delays in SCD-related pain care and improve health outcomes, nursing policymakers, administrators, and educators must implement multilevel strategies to address the identified barriers to optimize pain management in children with SCD.