Paediatric resuscitation for nurses working in Ghana: an educational intervention

• Published in: International nursing review Vol. 60; no. 1; pp. 136 - 143
• Main Authors: Brennan, M.M., Fitzpatrick, J.J., McNulty, S.R., Campo, T., Welbeck, J., Barnes, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2013
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Avoidable; Child Mortality; Educational Measurement; Emergency Nursing - education; Female; Ghana; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Infant Mortality; Male; Middle Aged; Nurses; Nursing; Paediatric Resuscitation; Pediatrics - education; Post-test Educational Intervention; Pre-test; Resuscitation; Resuscitation - education; Self Efficacy; Self-Efficacy of Paediatric Resuscitation; Selfefficacy; Surveys and Questionnaires; World Health Organization; World Health Organization Emergency Triage and Treatment (ETAT) Guidelines; Ghana
• ISSN: 0020-8132; 1466-7657
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1466-7657.2012.01033.x

BRENNAN M.M., FITZPATRICK J.J., MCNULTY S.R., CAMPO T., WELBECK J. & BARNES G. (2013) Paediatric resuscitation for nurses working in Ghana: an educational intervention. International Nursing Review60, 136–143 Background:  Deficiencies in the paediatric emergency systems of developing countries may contribute to avoidable paediatric mortality. Studies suggest that nurses and doctors may not be educationally prepared to provide immediate paediatric resuscitative care to acutely ill children. The purpose of this study was to determine if a 1‐day World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Triage and Assessment Treatment (ETAT) Program in paediatric resuscitation would increase Ghanaian nurses' knowledge and self‐efficacy of paediatric resuscitation. Methods:  A pre‐experimental, one‐group, pre‐test, post‐test design was used to assess differences in the nurses' knowledge of paediatric resuscitation, and their perceived self‐efficacy of paediatric resuscitation after completing a 1‐day educational intervention in paediatric resuscitation. Forty‐one nurses from a public teaching hospital in Ghana were recruited and participated in the study. Results:  Using a paired samples t‐test, there was a statistically significant increase in the nurses' perceived self‐efficacy of paediatric resuscitation in general (P < 0.000), perceived self‐efficacy of bag and mask ventilation (P < 0.000), and knowledge of paediatric resuscitation (P < 0.000). Conclusions:  Findings from this study suggest that a 1‐day WHO ETAT Program may increase self‐efficacy of paediatric resuscitation and knowledge of paediatric resuscitation. Clinical Relevance:  Policy makers in Ghana need to consider implementing education programmes in paediatric resuscitation for nurses as part of a comprehensive strategy to improve emergency systems and address preventable and avoidable infant and child mortality.