Pain in older adults with dementia: Development of a tool to meaure nursing staff knowledge and attitudes

This project constructed and evaluated a psychometrically sound tool to measure nursing staff knowledge and attitudes regarding pain in older adults (including adults with dementia) for use in the residential aged care setting. Access to pain relief is basic human right. The tool developed will be beneficial in identifying nursing staff knowledge deficits and negative attitudes that may be preventing staff from recognising pain in the older adults they care for, and preventing the older adult from receiving appropriate care, pain relief, and pain management. These areas of deficit can then be targeted in education programs for aged care staff and used to inform practice so that older people (including older people with dementia) can access the care to which they are entitled.