Research Article

Physicians’ Attitudes to Clinical Pain Management and Education: Survey from a Middle Eastern Country

Table 2

Physicians’ assessment of their own competency in pain management based on years in practice.

Total number of physiciansYears in practice value
Early career
(≤5 years)
Mid-career
(6–10 years)
Advanced career
(≥11 years)

Rating physicians’ expertise in pain management
Average to good30 (43.48%)21 (55.26%)2 (25.0%)7 (30.43%)
Very good to excellent39 (56.52%)17 (44.74%)6 (75.0%)16 (69.57%)0.084
Necessity for a formal training to improve knowledge in pain management
Yes 17 (24.64%)12 (31.58%)1 (12.5%)4 (17.39%)
No46 (66.67%)23 (60.53%)7 (87.5%)16 (69.57%)
No answer 6 (8.69%)3 (7.89%)0 (0%)3 (13.04%)0.569
Any recent formal training/workshop/course on pain management
Yes35 (50.72%)13 (34.21%)4 (50.0%)18 (78.26%)
No 34 (49.28%)25 (65.79%)4 (50.0%)5 (21.74%)0.003
Pain management reference used
Hospital protocol on pain management15 (21.74%)11 (28.95%)2 (25.0%)2 (8.70%)0.173
Other published hospital protocols6 (8.70%)2 (5.26%)2 (25.0%)2 (8.70%)0.188
Physician’s own judgment30 (43.48%)15 (39.47%)4 (50.0%)11 (47.83%)0.731
Updated international pain management guidelines36 (52.17%)15 (39.47%)5 (62.5%)16 (69.57%)0.067
More than one answer18 (26.09%)