Özlem ÖZDEMİR, İlknur METİN AKTEN, Gülcan MEŞHUR
Middle Black Sea Journal of Health Science - 2026;12(2):163-180
Objective: The study aimed to determine the self-efficacy of senior nursing students in pain management and their attitudes towards patients with chronic pain. Methods: The study was conducted as a descriptive cross-sectional study with senior nursing students. The data were collected by using the Pain Management Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PMSEQ) and Health Care Professionals' Attitudes toward Patients with Chronic Pain Scale (HCPAPCP). Results: The total mean scores of the senior nursing students on the HCPAPCP Scale and the PMSEQ were found to be 3.87+/-0.69 and 83.33+/-11.77, respectively. A positive relationship was detected between the scores of the students on HCPAPCP and the PMSEQ (p<0.05). It was found that those who took courses on chronic pain had a higher level of self-efficacy in pain management, and those who used scales in pain assessment had a positive attitude towards patients with chronic pain (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was found that senior nursing students had high pain management self-efficacy and good attitudes toward patients with chronic pain. As students' pain management self-efficacy increased, their attitudes toward patients with chronic pain also increased positively. Senior nursing students' competence in recognizing and assessing pain affects their attitudes toward individuals with chronic pain. Nursing education curricula must place more emphasis on pain assessment and management.
