Abstract

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Nurses towards Oxygen Therapy at Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Teaching and Referral Hospital, Ethiopia, 2021

Author(s): Hindu Argeta, Biskut Bezabih, Elsabeth Kebede

Background: Oxygen therapy is a medical treatment prescribed to prevent or treat hypoxemia. Based on a WHO report every year at least 1.4 million deaths occur due to the lack of supplemental oxygen therapy and inappropriate administration of oxygen. Oxygen therapy is the administration of oxygen as a medical intervention, which can be used for a variety of medical conditions. Patients can be harmed by receiving too little or too much oxygen. In addition, assessment of the need for oxygen in most cases is a nursing responsibility. Administering oxygen therapy (OT) has an essential role in preventing/ managing hypoxemia in both acute and chronic conditions. It should be adjusted to achieve the normal oxygen saturation of 94% to 98% in most cases.

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of nurses on supplemental oxygen therapy in Wolaita Sodo University Teaching and Referral Hospital, 2021.

Methods: An institution_based cross-section study design was conducted to collect data from 268 sampled nurses in the hospital. A structured questionnaire was used to assess KAP related to oxygen therapy of nurses currently working at Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. The attitude was assessed using a Likert scale from 1 to 5, whereas practice was assessed as a yes/ no categorical variable supported by an observational checklist developed from the literature. Data were collected using structured questionnaires that measure nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding supplemental oxygen therapy. Data were entered using Epi Data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 23. The descriptive analysis of frequency distribution was conducted and the data were presented with tables, figures, and diagrams.

Results: Among 268 nurses included in the study with a response rate of 98.17%, 38.2% were males. The mean score on knowledge, attitude, and practice were 3.03 (SD= 1.6665), 13.76(SD= 2.102), and 3.0921(SD= 1.76183) respectively. Levels of knowledge, attitude, and practice on oxygen therapy were poor and good in 119(44.40%) and 149(55.60%) for knowledge; 105(39.20%) and 163(60.80%) for attitude; 70(26.10%) and 198(73.90%) for practice respectively.

Conclusions: This study showed that there is relatively good knowledge, attitude, and practice among nurses than in the previous other studies but it is less than the standard performance. It gives clues for policymakers and stack holders to prepare different training and workshops for nurses regarding oxygen therapy and be updated. National oxygen therapy guidelines or hospital protocols must be developed. Oxygen supply and delivery devices should always be adequate and be used properly.