Assessment of Nurses Knowledge Concerning Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Management with Insulin Therapy in Intensive Care Units at Baghdad Hospitals

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a common health problem of a chronic nature that requires continuing care and education. For this reasons, health care providers especially nurses, irrespective of the discipline in which they work, need to have knowledge of inpatient type II diabetic with insulin therapy. Objective(s): The study aims to assess the knowledge of nurses concerning type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) management with insulin therapy in intensive care units and to finding out the relationship between the nurse's knowledge and the demographic characteristics that includes (age, gender, level of education, years of experience, and training session). Methodology: A descriptive study was conducted at Baghdad Teaching Hospital; In-Alnafes Teaching Hospital, Ibn-Albettar Teaching Hospital, Al-khademia, and al-kharkh hospitals starting in September 15th 2013 up to the March 30th 2014. To achieve the objectives of the study, A non-probability (purposive) samples of (60) nurses who was consisted of all nurses who provides an insulin therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and according to special criteria. Data were collected by an application of direct interview as a means of data collection. Nurses were interviewed while they are working in the Intensive Care Unit during the day. Instrument validity was determined through content validity, by a panel of experts. Reliability of the instrument was determined through detected of Cronbach's alpha via split half technique on sample of (10) nurses, which was (0.74). Analysis of data was performed through the application of descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean of score, Relative sufficiency) and inferential statistics, significance and correlation coefficient. Results: The results of the study indicated that the mean of scores and relative sufficiency for nurse's knowledge regarding DM management with Insulin therapy for patients in the intensive care unit was out of comparison and there is no significant association between training session of sample and nurses' knowledge. While there is high significant association between ages, gender, level of education, years of experience in cardiac care unit and nurses' knowledge. Conclusion: The study that the most of nurses whom work in intensive care unit have knowledge deficit about insulin therapy. However, the findings of the study indicated that there is a knowledge deficit of nurses in some aspects related to insulin therapy. Recommendations: The study emphasize that hospitals and health organizations should be applying flexible and responsible steps to facilitate passages for better level for junior nurses and those who need high graduated level to improve their skills and knowledge towards insulin therapy for patients with type II DM. Nevertheless, further studies are necessary in order to assess nurses' knowledge toward DM management with insulin therapy in ICUs and demonstrate the errors that occur, which are lead to fatal complications.