ABSTRACT
Background: Adequate children's pain management is universally considered an ethical obligation. In evaluating and treating children's pain, nurses invest more time and take a leading role. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of nurses towards the treatment of pediatric pain. Materials and Methods: A total of 292 nurses working at four South Gondar Zone hospitals of Ethiopia was surveyed. To gather information from study participants, the Pediatric Nurses' -Knowledge and Attitudes- Survey Regarding Pain (PNKAS) was employed. Frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation of the data were used for descriptive analysis, while Pearson correlation, one-way between-groups analysis of variance, and independent-samples t-test were used for inferential analysis. Results: A large percentage of nurses (74.7%) lacked adequate knowledge and attitudes (PNKAS score <50%) for pediatric pain treatment. The mean ± SD accurate response score of 43.1% ± 8.6% was achieved by nurses. An increase in pediatrics nursing experience was significantly correlated with nurses' PNKAS score (p < 0.001). The mean PNKAS scores of nurses who had official pain management training differed in a statistically significant way as compared to its counterpart (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Nurses who are working South Gondar Zone of Ethiopia have insufficient knowledge and attitudes towards treatment of pediatric pain. Therefore, pediatric pain treatment in-service training is urgently needed.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The application of cricoid pressure requires good knowledge and practice of health professionals who are working in operation theatres to prevent pulmonary aspiration. This study aims to assess the application of cricoid pressure knowledge and practice in health professionals who are working in the operation theatres. METHODS: This survey-based study was conducted in health care professionals who are working in the operation theatre of Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from November 1 to December 1, 2020. A structured checklist was used to collect data regarding the knowledge and practice of the application of cricoid pressure. RESULTS: A total of 43 health professionals who are working in the operation theaters were involved in this study with a response rate of 81%. The correct anatomic position of cricoid cartilage was not identified in 67% of nurses. We found that 78% of anesthetists did not use the nasogastric tube for decompression, and 83% of them complain of difficult intubation during the application of cricoid pressure. CONCLUSION: Health care professionals who are working in operation theatres had poor knowledge and practice in the application of cricoid pressure.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Emergency drugs and essential equipment are important to successfully manage patients in the intensive care unit (ICUs). The absence of these emergency drugs and essential equipment might result in mortality and morbidity which is more compounded in resource-limited settings. This study aims to assess the availability of emergency drugs and essential equipment in ICUs in hospitals in Ethiopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was employed in the intensive care unit of nine Amhara regional state hospitals in Ethiopia. This study was done from August 01, 2020, to September 01, 2020. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire, which were adopted from the Emergency Medicine Society of South Africa (EMSSA) guidelines. Tables and narration were used to describe results. RESULTS: There were deficiencies of essential emergency items particularly in the pediatrics domain, devices to confirm tracheal intubation and equipment for managing difficult intubation. Emergency drugs like adrenaline, salbutamol puff, atropine, aspirin, furosemide, hydrocortisone, insulin, lidocaine, and medical oxygen were available in all ICUs, whereas amiodarone, sodium bicarbonate, glucagon, ipratropium nebulization, thiamine were not available in all ICUs. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: There were considerable deficiencies in emergency drugs and essential equipment. Based on our findings, we recommend to develop standardized checklists, regular audits, and healthcare personnel awareness program to improve checking, maintaining, restocking, and repairing the equipment in the emergency trolley.
