Assessment of Knowledge and Awareness of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II Tool Among Intensive Care Nurses in a Tertiary Institution

Abstract

Background: This study is aimed at assessing the adequate knowledge and awareness of the trained Intensive Care Nurses working at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) on Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II prognostic tool on patients who are being referred for intensive medical and nursing care from other departments of the hospital for cardiac and thoracic support, also for invasive and non-invasive procedures. This tool is an instrument of interest that is used in predicting the severity and prognosis of critical conditions such as severe trauma, and severe sepsis. The prognostic tool was first founded at George Washington University Medical Center in 1981. The acute physiological score was complex initially because it uses 34 physiological parameters, afterward a simple 12 parameter APACHE II system was invented in 1985 and it is widely applied in assessing the severity of diseases in the Intensive Care Unit. The same was published in 1985 and it remains useful for research, quality control, and clinical applications for patients admitted into the Intensive Care Unit within 24 hours. This study was a cross-sectional survey that used a structured electronic survey questionnaire to collect ethnography qualitative data. A total of 72 (98%) (n=72) of the respondents are trained intensive care nurses and 2 (2%) had no training in intensive care nursing. 27 (36%) of the respondents work in the intensive care unit, 10 (14%) works in the Post Basic Intensive Training School, 14 (19%) works in Post-Operative Recovery Room, while 23 (31%) of the respondent works in other departments of the hospital. And all these trained intensive care nurses had their training across different schools in Nigeria. In conclusion, the study showed that a larger number of the trained intensive care nurse in UATH who had their training across various schools in Nigeria do not have optimal knowledge and awareness of the utilization of this tool, and it is very important for nurses to have the background knowledge and for proper use of this prognostic tool. Therefore, there is a need for training and re-training for the Intensive Care Nurses across the board. Also, this tool should be inculcated into the Post Basic Critical Care Training Nursing Schools, curriculum across all the Post Basic Critical Care Nursing Training Schools in Nigeria.