Paediatric resuscitation for nurses working in Ghana: an educational intervention.

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.