NURSES’ KNOWLEDGE,PRACTICE,AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN PEDIATRIC PAIN MANAGEMENT AT SELECTED PUBLIC HOSPITALS OF CENTRAL ETHIOPIA REGION, 2026

Abstract

Background: ‘Pain is an unpleasant emotional and sensory experience that is linked to or characterized as actual or possible tissue damage.According to national studies and preliminary observations with nursing staff at public Hospitals of central Ethiopia region variability in pain assessment practice and knowledge reliance on subjective judgment rather than standardized tools.Pediatric pain is not properly assessed and managed despite the presence of pain management guidelines. Objective: To assess nurses’ knowledge, practice, and associated factors in pediatric pain management at selected public Hospitals of Central Ethiopia Region,2026. Methods: An institution-based descriptive cross-sectional study were done, simple random sampling method was used, and a total of 420 Nurses were included from selected public Hospitals. Data were collected from January 1–30, 2026, after permission is obtained from the ethical review commites of Wolkite univeresty .Data was collected by 8 health officers. After data collection, it was coded and then entered into the Epi Data Version 4.1 software, and then it was analyzed by the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 27 software. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were done to identify factors that were associated with knowledge and practice of pediatric pain management of nurses. Results :-Out of 403 participants more than half (64.4%) of nurses had Good knowledge and only 43.2 % of participants had good practice.Those nurses who had training after graduation,nurses working in pediatric ward and experience in nursing were significant associated factors. Conclusions:-Nurses working at central Ethiopia region comprehensive specialized hosipitals were 64.4% good knwldege and 43.2% practice . Therefore the findings of this study suggest that Much work is expected to be done to improve their Knowledge and practice towards pediatrics pain management.