Nurses' behavioural intentions towards intravenous fluid administration for pediatric patients: Application of the theory of planned behaviour.

BACKGROUND: For pediatric patients, the demand for quality and safe Intravenous Fluid (IVF) therapy is huge. This is because, compared to adults, children have a lower tolerance for IVF therapy errors and present devastating physiological responses to errors. Nurses play a vital role in IVF administration; therefore, adequate knowledge, positive attitudes, positive perceived behavioural control, and good behavioural intentions are required to achieve effective and successful therapy, patient safety and prevention of complications, and overall positive patient outcomes. This study sought to assess the behaviour of nurses towards IVF administration for pediatric patients. METHOD: A cross-sectional facility-based study was designed and randomly recruited 112 nurses. The theory of planned behaviour was used as a conceptual framework to assess nurses' behavioural intentions towards IVF administration for pediatric patients. Mean scores and their respective standard deviations, reliability tests, exploratory factor analysis, and linear logistic regression were all performed using SPSS version 27, with the level of significance set at 0.05. RESULTS: Nurses' behavioural intentions for IVF administration for pediatric patients were influenced by their knowledge of standards and protocols for IVF use (ß = 0.320; p = 0.01), attitudes (ß = 0.339; p = 0.006) subjective norms (ß 0.240; p = 0.003) and perceived behavioural control (ß = 0.26; p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Nurses' behavioural intentions for IVF administration were significantly influenced by their knowledge of procedures and standards for IVF administration. Additionally, the nurses' subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and attitude towards IVF administration have a significant effect on their behavioural intentions to administer IVFs to pediatric patients. For nurses to administer IVF effectively, safely, and successfully to pediatric patients, there is a need to enhance their knowledge of standards and guidelines for IVF administration. The nurses need to have good attitudes and positive support and influence from all others to be able to administer IVFs safely and successfully to their pediatric patients.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection and associated factors among health care workers in Southern Ghana.

Introduction: The World Health Organization estimates that 37% of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infections among Health Care Workers (HCWs) are due to percutaneous occupational exposure to blood and body fluids. In Ghana, occupational exposures are rising; however, the burden of HBV infection in HCWs remains unknown. Our study estimated the prevalence of HBV surface antigens and associated factors among HCWs. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 340 HCWs using a structured pretested questionnaire and screening for HBV surface antigens. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 with a level of significance set at <0.05. Results: The overall crude prevalence of current HBV infection was 5.9 % (95% CI, 3.0-8.0). Adjusted prevalence by test performance was 5.8%. Prevalence was highest among males 10.2% (95% CI, 4.8-18.5), HCWs other than nurses and doctors 9.2% (95% CI, 4.5-16.2), and those working at lower-level facilities 9.7% (95% CI, 4.8-17.1). Training in the prevention of blood-borne infections was significantly associated with HBV infection (adjusted odds ratio 3.2; 95% CI, 1.1-9.1). Conclusions: HBV infection is high in this population. In addition to lifesaving interventions such as vaccination and the use of immunoglobulin, training in blood-borne infections could prevent new HBV infections among Ghanaian HCWs.