Knowledge, attitudes and practices of health professionals in management of pain in aids patients at Polokwane/ Mankweng Hospital complex, Limpopo Province
type: CreativeWork
description: This study was initiated as part of a quality improvement project on pain management at Polokwane/Mankweng Hospital Complex (PMHC). This is the first part of the project, which involved a baseline study to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of doctors working in the two hospitals in managing pain in HIV/AIDS patients. Admissions due to the AIDS epidemic have continued to rise over the years, with a quarter of admission in medical wards being attributed to AIDS related diseases1. The survey was conducted at Polokwane/Mankweng Hospital Complex. One hundred and twenty questionnaires were distributed, and 52% of the doctors returned the completed questionnaires. The objectives of the study were as follows: 1. To determine the level of knowledge of doctors in PMHC about pain in AIDS patients. 2. To determine the attitudes of doctors in PMHC regarding pain management in AIDS patients. 3. To determine their practice regarding prescribing analgesics for pain in AIDS patients. 4. To determine whether the level of knowledge and their attitudes affect their prescribing practice. The level of knowledge of doctors at PMHC is low compared to previous studies 2,3,4 with a mean of 46.92%. The level of knowledge for Oncologists is not better than other specialties. The oncologists do however have better knowledge of the WHO pain ladder compared to other specialties. The doctors (56.9%) are not familiar with the WHO pain ladder, which has been in existence for over 20 years. The doctors are aware that pain management is major problem (69.2%), and that one has to aim for complete pain relief (83.1%). Community Service doctors have been found to have the lowest mean score for level of knowledge (33.92%, SD=9.44) and level of attitude (52.39%, SD=17.81). Interns on the other hand had the highest mean score for the level of attitude (80.55%, SD=19.47) and knowledge (58.33; SD=17.07). 7 Most doctors still believe that the likelihood of patients developing addiction to morphine wh…
abstract: This study was initiated as part of a quality improvement project on pain management at Polokwane/Mankweng Hospital Complex (PMHC). This is the first part of the project, which involved a baseline study to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of doctors working in the two hospitals in managing pain in HIV/AIDS patients. Admissions due to the AIDS epidemic have continued to rise over the years, with a quarter of admission in medical wards being attributed to AIDS related diseases1. The survey was conducted at Polokwane/Mankweng Hospital Complex. One hundred and twenty questionnaires were distributed, and 52% of the doctors returned the completed questionnaires. The objectives of the study were as follows: 1. To determine the level of knowledge of doctors in PMHC about pain in AIDS patients. 2. To determine the attitudes of doctors in PMHC regarding pain management in AIDS patients. 3. To determine their practice regarding prescribing analgesics for pain in AIDS patients. 4. To determine whether the level of knowledge and their attitudes affect their prescribing practice. The level of knowledge of doctors at PMHC is low compared to previous studies 2,3,4 with a mean of 46.92%. The level of knowledge for Oncologists is not better than other specialties. The oncologists do however have better knowledge of the WHO pain ladder compared to other specialties. The doctors (56.9%) are not familiar with the WHO pain ladder, which has been in existence for over 20 years. The doctors are aware that pain management is major problem (69.2%), and that one has to aim for complete pain relief (83.1%). Community Service doctors have been found to have the lowest mean score for level of knowledge (33.92%, SD=9.44) and level of attitude (52.39%, SD=17.81). Interns on the other hand had the highest mean score for the level of attitude (80.55%, SD=19.47) and knowledge (58.33; SD=17.07). 7 Most doctors still believe that the likelihood of patients developing addiction to morphine wh…
author: Ratshikana-Moloko, Mja
language: eng
date published: 2010
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:22:52Z
provider: University of Cape Town
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Department of Public Health and Family Medicine

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9422