Effects of individual performance feedback on nurses' adherence to pain management clinical guidelines.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an individual performance feedback intervention on nurses' adherence to pain management practice guidelines. Thirty orthopedic staff nurses received individual performance feedback on their past performance of three recommended pain management practices. Nurses' performance of the three recommended practices significantly improved over the 15 weeks after the feedback intervention. Missed 4-hour pain assessments declined (t = 8.77, df = 239, P < 0.0001), reassessments after analgesics increased (t = -5.71, df = 239, P < 0.0001), and follow-up taken for unacceptable pain increased (t = -3.08, df = 178, P < 0.01). Results suggest that individual performance feedback may be an effective approach to improving nurses' pain management intervention activities.