Evaluation of Coping with Pain in Nursing Students

Objective: This study was conducted to clarify the methods of coping with pain in students of Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing (CUFHSDN) in Sivas. Materials and Methods: Data were collected during the educational season of 2006-2007. In total, 3 12 nursing students completed a questionnaire focusing on main questions related to pain and methods of coping with pain. Data analyzed in the SPSS program. Percentage calculation Chi square and Mcnemar tests were used in the statistical analysis. Results: According to result of the study, it was established that all of the student experienced pain, 41 % had headache because of stress, 70.2 % didn't have knowledge about pain before the started nursing school, 26.6% used traditional-alternative methods cope with pain. It was also identified that students' coping methods of pain changed after nursing training and they reported that they used more often nonpharmacologial methods. Conclucions: Pain management is a one of the most complex issues in nursing. Nursing education must be prepared candidates of nursing professional to provide comfort and well-being, to ease pain and to relieve suffering. These results indicate that nursing education may be effective in improving pain management. Further research into additional factors influencing pain management are needed.