Impact of Application of Nursing Guidelines on Health Outcomes for Patients Undergoing Gastrointestinal Endoscopes

Abstract

Background: Endoscopy is a nonsurgical procedure used to examine a person's digestive tract. Using an endoscope, a flexible tube with a light and camera attached to it, the doctor can view pictures of the digestive tract on a color TV monitor. Aim of this study was to evaluate impact of application of nursing guidelines on health outcomes for patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopes. Subjects and methods: A quasi-experimental research design was used. A convenient sample was used; it includes all nursing staff working with patient undergoing GI endoscopy (40 nurses) and 240 adult patients. This study conducted at GI endoscopy unit at Al-Azhar University Hospital at new Damietta city. Three tools used for data collection. Tool (1) is a pre/post-patient structured interview. Tool (2) is a pre post nurse structured interview. Tool (3) is an observational check list for nurses’ practice. Results, show a significant improvement in the nurses' knowledge and practice scores after nursing guidelines implementation regarding the care of patients with GIT endoscopy at (p- value = 0.00, 0.02 & 0.04) respectively. Positive significant correlation between nurses’ knowledge and practice before and after guidelines implementation in the following items (general preparation - pre-procedure) post procedure items and total practice score. Conclusion, there was significant improvement in nurse's knowledge and practice about care of patients undergoing GI endoscopy after implementation of nursing guidelines. As well as improving patient outcomes. The study recommended that Continuous and adequate education and training of nursing staff working at gastrointestinal endoscopy units with regular and continuous evaluation of nurses' practice.