Effect of an Educational Program Regarding Cardiac Arrhythmias on Nurses’ Knowledge and Practices in Critical Care Units

Abstract

Context: Cardiac arrhythmia is a serious condition that can lead to fatal forms of rhythm disturbance. Critical care nurse plays a vital role in arrhythmias management, specializing in symptomatic relief, promoting comfort, and taking crisis management activity in fatal dysrhythmias.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of an educational program regarding cardiac arrhythmias on nurses' knowledge and practice in critical care units.

Methods: A quasi-experimental design (pre/test) was applied. This study was carried out at Critical Care Units in Governmental Port-Said general hospitals (Port Said General Hospital, Port-Fouad General Hospital, and Alzhoor Central Hospital) in Port Said Governorate in Egypt. A convenient sample of all available nurses (139) nurses in critical care units was recruited in this study and divided into 116 female and 23 male nurses. The data collection tool encompassed two: A structured interviewing questionnaire with demographic characteristics, a nurses' knowledge questionnaire, and nurses' practice observational checklists.

Results: The results revealed a nurses' mean age of 25.6 ±5.1; 83.5% were females, and 55.4% had technical nursing institute diplomas. A high statistically significant total knowledge and practice score difference between pre and immediate post-program implementation at p<0.001. Also, among pre and follow-up assessments after educational program application at p<0.001. In addition, there was a statistically significant correlation between total nurses' knowledge score and their total practice score immediately after the educational program (r=0.636, p <0.001). and follow up (r=0.426, p<0.001).

Conclusion The nursing educational program significantly improved nurses' knowledge and practice regarding cardiac arrhythmias management among nurses working in the critical care units. The study recommended continuous training and educational program for enhancing and apprising the nurses’ knowledge and practice regarding cardiac arrhythmias in the critical care unit.