Background: Nonpharmacological interventions, including but not limited to mindfulness, biofeedback, and CBT, have been integrated into chronic pain management practice. As prospective practitioners, nursing students play a significant role, as their knowledge and attitudes toward such interventions may directly influence the standard and quality of care. This study aims to assess the knowledge and attitudes of nursing students in using nonpharmacological interventions for pain management.
Method: A survey was conducted online in two universities in Indonesia and three universities in the Philippines from January-March 2025. An independent sample T-test was used to assess the difference in demography variables between Indonesia and the Philippines, correlation analysis was deployed between nonpharmacological attitude and other variables (non-pharmacological knowledge, pharmacological attitude, age, sex, habitation, non-pharmacological application and having or not family with chronic pain).
Result: 150 and 179 undergraduate students of nursing in Indonesia and the Philippines, respectively, was acquired. A significant difference was found in age (t=15.39, P<0.001), application (t=2.04, p=0.04), and pharmacological attitude (t=3.33, P<0.001). Average knowledge score was 71.92 % (SD=2.82) and 71.78 % (SD=2.67), accordingly in Indonesia and the Philippines. Overall, nonpharmacological attitude is positively correlated with nonpharmacological knowledge (r=0.47, P<0.001) and having a family with chronic pain (r=0.43, P<0.001).
Conclusion: The introduction of ranging types of intervention, the modes and delivery of intervention, the setting the intervention is given, and the empathy in taking care of patients with chronic pain should be included in pain education through courses, clinical training, and real-world simulations.