Effect Of An Intervention Program On Nurses' Knowledge Of Initial Assessment Of Burn In Pediatric

Abstract

Background: Burns are a common and serious injury in children, and nurses are the front line of their care. The knowledge of the nurse is the base of safe and correct care, yet many nurses do not receive special training in pediatric burn management. Aim: To evaluate the effect of an intervention (educational) program on nurses' knowledge of pediatric burn at the Mosul Specialized Center for Burns and Plastic Surgery. Methodology: A quasi-experimental design with a study group and a control group (30 nurses each, total 60) was used. A structured questionnaire covering the demographic characteristics and seven areas of knowledge about pediatric burn was applied, and the knowledge of both groups was measured at three time levels (pretest, posttest 1, and posttest 2). The data were analyzed by SPSS version 26 using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: At the pretest, both groups had a low level of knowledge (study group 0.31, control group 0.26). After the program, the knowledge of the study group rose to a good level (0.78 and 0.76 at posttest 1 and posttest 2), while the control group stayed at a low level. The change in the study group was significant for all knowledge items (P = .000), and the difference between the two groups was significant at posttest 1 and posttest 2 (P = .000). The educational level of the nurses had a significant correlation with their knowledge at posttest 1 (P = .033). Conclusions: The intervention program had a positive and significant effect on the nurses' knowledge of pediatric burn, while the control group did not change. A planned educational program is an effective way to raise nurses' knowledge. Recommendations: Continuous educational and training programs about pediatric burn should be provided for nurses, using varied teaching methods and periodic refresher sessions, and further studies with larger samples are recommended.