Do final-year medical students have sufficient knowledge of pain management?

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of pain is high and there have also been serious complications related to undermanaged pain. Deficiency in pain education is among the causes of the problem. Studies in the last two decades have consistently reported that knowledge and attitude regarding pain management was generally poor among the medical students. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge and attitudes among the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIAMS) final year medical students regarding pain management.

METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study and "Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain (KASRP)" questionnaire developed by Ferrell and McCaffery (revised in 2014) was used. Data was collected in July 2019 in which students had to complete the hard copy questionnaire before a teaching session began. Participation of students was voluntary, anonymous and written informed consent was also obtained. Data were analysed using SPSS, version 16.

RESULTS: Out of 118 enrolled students, 110 participated in this study giving a response rate of 93%. The results showed a low number of correct response to the questions on analgesics, assessment, and treatment. The mean percentage score of correct answers was 52.23±8.67% (range: 29.27% to 70.73%). The results reflected that students were poor in both knowledge and attitude regarding pain management.

CONCLUSION: Final year medical students, frontliners-to-be in hospital care, should have good knowledge and attitudes in pain management. Findings, however, revealed that UNIMAS final year medical students still need to get improved in this aspect of patient care. A larger study involving students from all the medical schools in Malaysia is needed before reviewing the undergraduate curriculum for pain.