Knowledge, Practice, and Associated Factors of Nurses in Pre-Hospital Emergency Care at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background

Pre-hospital emergency care is a medical care given to patients before arrival in the hospital after activation of the emergency team. Poor knowledge and practice about pre-hospital emergency care hurt the health outcomes of the patients.

Objective

This study aimed to assess knowledge and practice nurses at the University of Gondar Compressive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 20 to April 10, 2020. A stratified sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data were collected using a pretested structured self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. To explain study variables, frequency tables and percentages were used. Logistic regression analysis was used to see the association between independent and dependent variables.

Results

Out of the total 378 respondents, less than half (42.9%) had good knowledge; similarly, 49.5% of them had good practice about pre-hospital emergency care. Male sex and attend formal training were significant associations with both knowledge and practice of pre-hospital emergency nursing care. Male participants (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 6.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) (3.79–11.36)) and having training (AOR=1.74, 95% CI (1.83–3.66)) were significantly associated with knowledge of pre-hospital emergency care, whereas male sex (AOR=1.73, 95% CI (1.09–2.73)) and having training (AOR=6.16, 95% CI (2.69–14.10)) were significantly associated with the practice of pre-hospital emergency care.

Conclusion

Knowledge and practice of nurses regarding pre-hospital emergency care was found to be inadequate as compared to previous studies. Male sex and attend formal training showed a positive and significant association with both knowledge and practice of pre-hospital emergency nursing care. The responsible body ought to allow professional development and attending formal training for nurses.

Keywords:

• pre-hospital emergency care
• knowledge
• nurses
• practice

Abbreviations

PR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation; BLS, basic life support; EICU, emergency and intensive care unit; EMS, emergency medical service; EMT, emergency medical team; OPD, outpatient department; UOGCSH, University Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Referral Hospital; USA, United States of America.

Data and Material Availability

The raw data is available from the corresponding authors on rational request, and the summary data are available on the main document.

Ethical Approval and Consent

The study was performed based on the ethical standards of put down the declaration of Helsinki. Ethical clearance was obtained from the institutional ethical review committee of the school of nursing and college of health science of University Gondar with ethical clearance letter reference number of Rf.No:S/N2012/123/2012. An official permission letter was obtained from the University of Gondar hospital administration. After understanding the purpose of the study, written informed consent was obtained from study participants. Confidentiality of participants’ information was kept.

Consent to Publication

Not applicable.

Acknowledgment

Our deepest gratitude goes university of Gondar for all expenses of this research work and study participants participated in the research. The authors also would like to give great appreciation to data collectors and supervisors for their contribution to this paper.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis, and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising, or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by the University of Gondar College of medicine and health science. The funding does not have a further role in the design, data collection, analysis, drafting, manuscript, preparation, and publication of this paper.