The Relationship Between Student Nurses' Pain Beliefs and Attitudes Toward Pain Assessment

Pain Manag Nurs. 2026 Jun 18:S1524-9042(26)00174-8. doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2026.05.011. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between nursing students' beliefs about pain and their attitudes toward pain assessment, addressing the limited evidence on this topic in the context of clinical education.

DESIGN: A cross-sectional design was employed.

METHODS: The sample consisted of 329 volunteer nursing students. Data were collected using the Descriptive Characteristics Form, the Pain Beliefs Questionnaire (PBQ), and the Nursing Students' Attitudes Scale Toward Pain Assessment (NSASPA).

RESULTS: The mean score of students' attitudes toward pain assessment was 56.65 (SD = 11.81). Mean scores for organic (PBQ-O) and psychological (PBQ-P) pain beliefs were 3.40 (SD = 0.66) and 2.51 (SD = 0.83), respectively. Organic pain beliefs showed a weak positive correlation with attitudes toward pain assessment (r = .220, p < .001), while psychological pain beliefs showed a weak negative correlation (r = ‒.215, p < .001). Multiple regression analysis indicated that both organic (β = .34, p < .001) and psychological (β = .33, p < .001) pain beliefs significantly predicted students' attitudes toward pain assessment.

CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that nursing students' pain beliefs serve as significant independent predictors of their attitudes toward pain assessment, with organic beliefs positively and psychological beliefs negatively influencing these attitudes CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Comprehensive pain management training will improve patient care by enhancing clinical pain assessment databases.

PMID:42315399 | DOI:10.1016/j.pmn.2026.05.011