EFFECTIVENESS OF AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ABOUT BIOLOGICAL HAZARD SAFETY MEASURES KNOWLEDGE AMONG CRITICAL CARE NURSES

Abstract

Background: communicable and contagious diseases and exposure to blood-borne pathogens make critical care nurses expose to biological work place hazard. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of an educational program on critical care nurses' knowledge about safety measures of biological hazard. Methodology: It was a pre/post interventional, hospital-based study, study subjects were 200 intensive care nurses (34 males 17% and 166 females 83%) working for one year or more in critical care settings (8 units) in ve public hospitals, Khartoum state, Sudan. A structured face to face questionnaire was used pre and posttest. A program done by lectures about biological hazard, causes, and safety measures, sitting group's discussion and direct individual educational sessions, interview was carried with each hospital's matron. Results: Knowledge about biological hazard as work place hazards was 100% in both pre and post results. Regarding preventive measures of biological hazard, participants showed different values in answer like uses of personal protective equipment (PPE) mentioned by 99% in preprogram test while hand washing was mentioned by 49.5% in pretest evaluation, Personal protective equipment was poorly provided. Conclusion: The educational program for critical care nurses had efcient results, as the noticeable improvement of results of critical care nurses' knowledge about universal precautions.