The Journey Toward Effective Pain Management: Tackling the Healthcare Providers Related Barriers

Cancer pain is one of the most frequent and distressing symptoms experienced by patients and remains commonly undertreated. Understanding healthcare provider-related barriers is essential to improving pain management practices. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare providers in Hospital Umum Sarawak using the Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain (KASRP) questionnaire to assess knowledge and attitudes toward pain management. A total of 136 healthcare providers participated, with an overall mean KASRP score of 60.26%. Doctors achieved the highest mean score (67.69%), followed by pharmacists (62.56%) and nurses (47.69%), with statistically significant interprofessional differences. As a minimum score of 80% is considered adequate, the findings indicate substantial gaps in knowledge and attitude across all groups. Variability in pain management education within professional curricula may explain these differences. Although education and training programs were associated with improved knowledge, their effectiveness varied, highlighting the need for regular, high-quality, and targeted training. Adequate knowledge alone does not ensure high-quality pain management, as inadequate pain assessment remains a persistent barrier. Regular audits, continuous education, and tailored training initiatives are crucial to overcome healthcare provider-related barriers and enhance the quality of cancer pain management.