Knowledge of Epidural Analgesia for Labour Pain among Healthcare Workers: A Hospital-based Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Childbirth is one of the most painful experiences of a woman’s life. Epidural analgesia is a gold-standard technique to alleviate labor pain. However, its use is 1.3% in developing countries. The main aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of epidural analgesia for labor pain among healthcare workers of Nepal Medical College Teaching Hospital.

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 healthcare workers. All healthcare workers fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included. Data collection was done via a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive analysis was done using  IBM SPSS version 20.

Results: Among the participants, 94.3% perceived labor pain to be severe. 97.9% had an idea on labor analgesia. 81.3% percent of the participants believed epidural analgesia to be the best modality of pain relief. 58.3% of the participants believed that epidural analgesia leads to an increased risk of caesarean section and 15.2% believed there would be an increased risk to the baby.

Conclusions: Most healthcare workers have knowledge about labor analgesia and think that it should be available to all patients in labor. However, this study shows that there is still some misconception about the risks and complications of epidural analgesia. Adequate knowledge should be provided to all healthcare workers for efficient services.