Assessment of Knowledge of Emergency Management of Ocular Trauma in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

BACKGROUND
 Ocular trauma is a major cause of preventable monocular blindness and visual impairment worldwide. Thorough knowledge of comprehensive management of all types of ocular trauma is of utmost importance in the visual prognosis of such patients. Nurses are an integral part of emergency care. The objectives of this study were to assess the knowledge of emergency management of ocular trauma among the nursing staff and final year B.Sc. nursing students at a tertiary care hospital in northern India and suggest methods to enhance the knowledge if required.
 METHODS
 This prospective questionnaire-based study was conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology, at a tertiary care hospital in northern India to assess the nursing staff and final year B.Sc. nursing students about their knowledge of emergency management of ocular trauma. A total of 82 participants were randomly selected from the nursing staff as well as the B.Sc. final year nursing students and were asked to answer a questionnaire, based on their knowledge of the emergency management of ocular trauma. Data recorded was analysed using SPSS version 26.
 RESULTS
 The maximum score was 30 for answering the questions in the questionnaire. The mean score was found to be 23 among the nursing staff and a mean score of 21 among nursing students. A better overall score was noted among subjects who had experience working in Ophthalmology and Emergency Care.
 CONCLUSIONS
 It was found that there was a significant relationship between knowledge about emergency management of ocular trauma and variables like gender and work experience in the Department of Ophthalmology and Emergency Care. However, there was no significant association between knowledge of management of ocular trauma and the total number of working years. Knowledge regarding concepts about chemical injury was found to be low in all groups. Training and updating of knowledge on all aspects of ocular trauma must be done with an emphasis on emergency management during their posting in the Department of Ophthalmology and Emergency Care.