The effect of nursing educational program on knowledge and practice of nurses regarding infection control measures for children under hemodialysis

Abstract

Background/aim The aim of the present study was to assess the knowledge and practice of nurses regarding the prevention of infection for children under hemodialysis, and to evaluate the effect of an educational nursing program on nurses’ knowledge and practice regarding the prevention of infection among children undergoing hemodialysis. Patients and methods We chose a quasi-experimental research design for the present study. The study was conducted in the renal dialysis unit at Assiut Children University Hospital. A convenience sample of 32 nurses working in the pediatric renal dialysis unit, who accepted to participate in this study, were enrolled. Following tools were used in the study. Tool 1, which was a structured questionnaire sheet about nurses’ knowledge including sociodemographic data; and nurses’ knowledge about renal failure, renal dialysis, and general precautions during nursing care for children under hemodialysis. Tool 2, which was an observational checklist sheet developed by the researcher to assess nurses’ practice for children under hemodialysis. It was applied before and after 2 months of the implementation of the educational program. It consisted of general and specific precautions to be taken during care of children under hemodialysis and application of infection control measures. Results The levels of knowledge scores were satisfactory among 90.6% of the nurses. There was a highly significant improvement in the nurses’ practice scores regarding general precautions, hand-washing, wearing gloves, wearing mask, catheter insertion, skin preparation technique, taking care of patients’ equipment, dealing with sharp objects, dealing with blood, body secretions, and fluids, and maintaining clean environment and safe injection practices in addition to the total practice score. There were significant improvements in items of the nurses’ practice such as laboratory-style covering coats, full isolation, and catheter care. The practice score level was adequate among 68.7%, whereas inadequate among 31.3% of the nurses. There were significantly higher nurses’ knowledge score and levels of improvement of their knowledge score after the education program among older nurses and those with Bachelor of Nursing. Conclusion Nurses’ knowledge and practice regarding hemodialysis and infection control guidelines are inadequate. Carrying out nursing education programs about infection control measures when dealing with children under hemodialysis resulted in a significant improvement in nurse’s knowledge and practice. Recommendations Nurses should be encouraged to attend specific meetings such as workshops and seminars held for infectious diseases and infection control to be acquainted with the recent advances and skills in the hemodialysis unit.