A Descriptive Study to Assess the Knowledge of Staff Nurses Regarding Potassium Imbalance Among Children in Child Health Care Areas of Selected Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab

Abstract

Potassium imbalance is frequently encountered in children. Specially, mortality rates are significantly higher in hypokalemia in wide range of disorders in children. India accounts for 25% of global child death, in that 18% of children die due to electrolyte imbalance, mainly including potassium and sodium imbalance. In Punjab, under five mortality rate due to potassium imbalance is 23%. A descriptive study was conducted to assess the knowledge of staff nurses regarding potassium imbalance among children in child health care areas of selected hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab. Aim of the study was to assess knowledge of staff nurses regarding potassium imbalance among children. The objectives were to assess the level of knowledge of staff nurses regarding potassium imbalance among children, to assess the relationship of knowledge of staff nurses with selected variables, to identify the deficits in the areas of knowledge of staff nurses regarding potassium imbalance and conduct teaching for staff nurses. Conceptual framework was based on Three Phase Learning Theory by Paul Fitts and Michael Posner, 1967. A quantitative research approach and non- experimental descriptive design was adopted for the study. Study was conducted in child health care areas of CMC & Hospital, Ludhiana. Data was collected by structured knowledge questionnaire tool which was tested to be reliable (r=0.87). The collected data from 100 staff nurses was organized, analyzed, tabulated and interpreted using descriptive and inferential statistics. According to level of knowledge of staff nurses, maximum staff nurses (45%) had an average level of knowledge and only 4% staff nurses had excellent level of knowledge. Professional qualification and current area of work had an impact on the level of knowledge of staff nurses (at p<0.05). It was inferred that staff nurses had maximum deficits were in the introduction related to potassium and its imbalance and minimum was in hypokalemia. The overall mean knowledge score was less than the expected level, therefore, the researcher planned & conducted a teaching for staff nurses working in child health care areas of Christian Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab.