Assessing pain knowledge among community nurses in Singapore: A pre- and post-education course study

Background Community nurses play a crucial role in managing pain, a prevalent yet often inadequately addressed symptom in community settings. Persistent knowledge gaps among healthcare providers contribute to inconsistent pain management, potentially compromising patient outcomes. Objectives This study is designed as a pre- and post-course observational study aiming to assess baseline pain knowledge among community nurses in Singapore and evaluate the effectiveness of an interdisciplinary pain education programme. Methods 43 community nurses completed a pre-course questionnaire assessing self-reported clinical knowledge and objective pain knowledge using the Clinical Pain Knowledge Test (CPKT). Following an interdisciplinary pain education programme, 34 nurses completed the post-course questionnaire. Changes in self-reported clinical knowledge and CPKT scores were analysed, and multivariable linear regression was used to identify predictors of post-course knowledge scores. Results Baseline pain knowledge among community nurses was modest with a mean pre-course CPKT score of 49.1% (±12.8%). Post-course, there was a significant improvement in overall knowledge scores (mean 58.4% ± 14.1%, p < 0.001). While improvements were observed in most CPKT domains, there was no significant change in the application of knowledge in clinical conditions. Less experienced community nurses demonstrated the greatest improvement post-course. Conclusion Structured pain education programmes effectively enhance nurses’ theoretical knowledge, particularly among those with less experience in community nursing. However, translating this knowledge into clinical application remains challenging. Standardised pain education and interdisciplinary training approaches may further strengthen pain management competencies in community settings.