Knowledge of bachelor’s graduates in nursing in the field of pain and methods of its eradication in patients after amputations in the lower limbs

Introduction
Effective treatment of lower limb amputations is still a challenge for modern medicine. The level of knowledge of nurses about pain control has a significant impact on the patient’s life comfort.

Aim of the study
The aim of the work was to assess the knowledge of bachelor graduates in nursing in the field of methods of fighting pain in patients after amputations in the lower limbs.

Material and methods
The survey covered 110 respondents, bachelor’s graduates in nursing. The author’s own questionnaire was used in the study. In the analysis of the results, the knowledge level was divided into high (76-100%), medium (50-75%), and low (0-49%) depending on the correctness of the answers given. Statistical analysis was performed using MS Excel 2013.

Results
A high overall level of knowledge was obtained by 35.5% of respondents, with an average of 39%, and 25.5% of respondents had knowledge at a low level. The level of general knowledge was statistically significantly related to the age of the respondents and their seniority. The level of knowledge decreased with the age of the respondents (p = 0.00014) and with their seniority (p = 0.0029). The place of employment was not statistically significantly related with the level of knowledge of the respondents (p = 0.444).

Conclusions
Graduates of bachelor studies in nursing have an average level of knowledge about the pain and methods of its treatment after amputations in the lower limbs. Younger respondents with shorter seniority had a higher level of knowledge.