Evaluation of elderly patients' awareness regarding risk factors of recurrent chest infection

This study aimed to enhancing optimal life capacity for the elders by reducing morbidiy and mortality rates from chest infections. This study carried out in two settings as follows: chest department and chest out patient clinic of Minia University hospital and Minia Chest Hospital in Minia Governorate. The sample included 250 elderly patients. Suffering from chest infection. Data was collected in a period of 6 months starting from September 2009 to the end of February 2010.Three tools were used in this study. First tool; is an interview questionnaire schedule included personal characteristics, and medical data and the elderly patients awareness regarding chest infection disease and risk factors of recurrent chest infection. Results of this study illustrated that [45.2%] of the studied sample aged between [60< 75ys]. The mean age +/- SD was [70.7 +/- 9.92]. Also [60%] of the studied sample were males. [67.2%], illiterate. [34.0%] of the studied sample were farmers, [56.4%] had overcrowded index and [76.7%] of males were currently cigarette smokers. The source of indoor air pollution in present study was oven [50%], followed by Coal, wood smoke [33.6%]. Moreover the highest frequency of outdoor air pollution the result illustrated that car exhaust [34.4%], followed by oven smoke [18.0%]. Also [85.6%] had negative awareness score regarding chest infection disease and [90.4%] had negative awareness score regarding risk factors of recurrent chest infection.[100%] of illiterate studied sample had negative score of awareness regarding risk factors. The study, showed that [97.7%] who live in rural areas and had negative awareness regarding chest infection. The study recommended that. Patients with chest infection should be educated about good hygiene, home ventilation, measures necessary to prevent further transmission, importance of compliance to the course of treatment, and the balanced diet. This can be achieved through mass media, health classes in different health agencies

Effect of an instructional scheme on Knowledge and skills related to health promotion among nursery school caregivers

The aim of this study was to improve nursery school caregivers' knowledge and practice related to care of preschool children. This aim was to be reached through achievement of the following objectives: To assess caregivers knowledge and practice concerning health promotion of children in the nursery school; To develop and implement an educational training program for health promotion and childcare for those caregivers and To evaluate the effect of the training program on caregivers' knowledge and practices. A quasi-experimental design was used in carrying out this study, with a pre-post assessment. The study subjects consisted of 50 caregivers, supervisors and workers selected from different nursery schools in Assiut City. The city is divided into East and West regions. The total number of nursery schools in Assiut City is 67. Ten nursery schools were randomly selected from this total, five from East and five front West regions. Two Tools for data collection first tool was an interview questionnaire form consisted of two parts. The first part was for the demographic data of the respondent, and included, age, residence, education, job position, and years of experience. The second part was for knowledge assessment, and covered heath promotion definition, forms, and types, nutrition, accidents definition and types, vaccination, definition, types, and objectives of play, rest and sleep, exercise, and hygiene. Second tool was observation checklist used to assess the practice of caregivers and/or supervisors regarding steps of measuring vital signs, hand washing, mouth, nose and eye care, application of bandage and cold compresses, and care for nose bleeding. Result reveled that most of the study subjects were younger than 30 years of age [60.0%], married [82.0%], were university graduates [56.0%], and had experience of five years or more [86.0%]. Only one-tenth of them [10.0%] had previously attended training programs. the mean scores of knowledge among nursery staff members before and after implementation of the educational program. It points to statistically significant improvements in all the tested areas at the post-test [p<0.001]. Concerning practice, similarly indicates statistically significant improvements in the mean scores in the post-test, compared to the pre-test [p<0.001]. Based on the findings of this study, it is concluded that the majority of caregivers and/or supervisors of nursery schools had low levels of knowledge and practice about health promotion and preschooler childcare. Implementation of an educational program incorporating theory and practice led to significant improvements in their related knowledge and practice. In the light of these results, it is recommended to implement this program and similar ones to all nursery school staff as a part of their continuing education, with periodic refresher courses addressing various aspects of preschoolers' health promotion. The community health nurse and pediatric nurse should have a prominent role in these training programs. Also, the undergraduate curriculum of the childhood department of the faculty of education should include theoretical knowledge and clinical practice of health promotion

Assessment of knowledge, practice and attitudes of workers working in Assuiut University toward the elderly care

Aging is a complex and dynamic process with interrelated and inseparable physiological, psychological and sociological components. Moreover the elderly can be a burden to themselves, their families and their communities. The present study aims to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices of workers in Assiut University toward the elderly care. The subjects of the study consist of 624 working personnel in different faculties in Assiut University setting. They were chosen using proportion allocation method which was 25% of the total number of working personnel in each faculty, the total number of the workers in Assiut University was 2558. The results revealed that the mean age of the workers was 37,2 +/- 11.6, females represented 60% of the studied sample, 44% of them were highly educated, and 81.0% of them living in urban communities, 45.8% of them living with elderly persons at home, while 54.2% not living with them. Majority of the studied sample had good knowledge regarding to the changes, which occur to the elderly, such as nutrition, sleeping problems, accident and exercise, while the majority of them had a poor knowledge regarding health promotion and disease prevention of the elderly. Only 14.7% of the studied sample had a satisfactory degree of practice toward the elderly care and the rest of them had a poor degree of practice. Females in studied sample had more score in practice than males. Those living in rural communities also had more score in knowledge and practice than those living in urban communities. The portion of the studied sample that was living with elderly persons, at their homes had high score in knowledge and practice than who were not living with them