ABSTRACT
Chest physiotherapy plays an important role in management of several acute or chronic respiratory disorders of childhood [Ashwill and Droske, 2002]. So, the aim of this study is to design, implement and evaluate an educational and training program for nurses working in Emergency Unit, Intermediate and Intensive Care Units at Assiut University Children Hospital about chest physiotherapy. The methods of data collection were a structured interview questionnaire sheet and observational checklists. The present study revealed that total mean scores of nurses' knowledge and practice throughout intervention program phases were improved in the three studied units from a pre- program level of [3.18 +/- 3.74, 7.40 +/- 1.77, 7.44 +/- 2.28, respectively] for knowledge and [2.09 +/- 2.9, 2.33 +/- 3.48, and 2.72 +/- 2.11, respectively] for practice to an immediate post test of [19.18 +/- 3.66, 21.40 +/- 2.06, 20.39 +/- 2.72, respectively] for knowledge and [18.27 +/- 2.5, 21.13 +/- 1.99, 19.33 +/- 2.77, respectively] for practice. This improvement was statistically significant [P- value < 0.001]. However, the mean scores of total knowledge and practice have declined in the follow up phase [after 3 months], it is still statistically significant higher than the pre-program level. The study concluded that implementation of the program was associated with significant improvements of nurses' knowledge and practice. More experienced and aged nurses had better knowledge. The present study recommended that the developed program should be applied and repeated again every 2-3 months in the same study setting and organized according to the needs of nurses, with subsequent continuing evaluation to the progress and outcome of these programs. Pediatric nurses should update their knowledge and performances through continued nursing education and training and frequently attending seminars and conferences based on their needs assessment