Nurses' Attitudes and Beliefs About Opioid Use in Pain Management: A Scoping Review.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to present nurses' attitudes and beliefs regarding opioid analgesic use and the barriers encountered in clinical practice within a systematic framework consistent with the existing literature.

Design: This study is a scoping review.

Data sources: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, EBSCO, Springer Nature, and Google Scholar between September 22 and September 26, 2025.

Review/analysis methods: Following independent title/abstract and full-text screening by two reviewers, data were charted using a standardized data extraction form. Extracted data included study design, sample characteristics, clinical context, the focus of opioid-related attitudes and practices, key findings, and authors' recommendations. Findings were synthesized using a descriptive and thematic approach to identify recurring patterns, contextual differences, and gaps in the literature.

Results: This scoping review shows that nurses' attitudes and practices regarding opioid analgesic use in pain management are influenced by multidimensional factors beyond individual knowledge and beliefs, including interprofessional interactions, institutional practices, regulatory frameworks, and sociocultural contexts. The use of evidence-based guidelines and structured pain assessment tools is associated with more positive clinical approaches, whereas fear of addiction, punitive organizational culture, role ambiguity, and institutional constraints represent major barriers to effective opioid use.

Conclusions: The findings inform clinical practice and indicate that future research should focus on intervention-based approaches addressing individual, organizational, and system-level factors. Evidence-based strategies developed within this framework may support sustainable pain management and enhance patient safety.