Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of pain management behavior intervention based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) on nurses' knowledge and behavior of and attitude toward pain management behavior. Methods Thirty-four nurses in surgical wards received TPB-based pain management behavior intervention and they were investigated by the Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain questionnaire before the implementation of the scheme (early January 2018) and after the implementation (late April 2018). The qualification rate of the pain nursing records was also evaluated by the electronic medical record system. At the same time, 120 patients discharged from the hospital in the same period were investigated by the Houston Pain Outcome Instrument. Results After the implementation of pain management behavior intervention, the scores of nurses' knowledge of and attitudes toward pain management behavior were significantly higher than before(P<0.01) and qualification rate of the pain nursing records was improved significantly (P<0.05). Patients' satisfaction with pain relief, pain treatment, nurses' response speed and all the nursing service provided when suffering pain was significantly improved (P<0.01). Conclusion TPB-based pain management behavior intervention can improve nurses' pain knowledge of and attitude toward pain, improve their pain management behavior thus relieve patients' pain.

Key words: theory of planned behavior, general surgery department, nurse, pain management