Knowledge that benefits patients: evaluation of knowledge transfer in nurses, after an e-Learning training on pain management
Introduction: In hospitals, the prevalence of pain has been reported to be high, but an effective and regular nursing pain management is not optimal. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge transfer following an e-Learning training on pain, followed by 47 nurses and support staff from a geriatric rehabilitation unit at a university hospital in French-speaking Switzerland. Methods: Nurses and support staff completed a satisfaction questionnaire and a knowledge questionnaire. An analysis of patient files was carried out and focus groups with professionals completed this evaluation. Results: The results show a high satisfaction with the contents addressed in the e-Learning and an acquisition of knowledge at the end of the training. However, the analysis of patient records shows that recommendations for good practice in pain screening and assessment are not systematically applied. The focus groups described several causes of this discrepancy. Discussion and conclusion: For training to benefit patients, knowledge transfer requires anticipating strategies to support skills development, including a partnership between trainers and care unit managers, as well as the assessment of the factors involved in knowledge transfer.