Effect of Implementing Educational Program about Patients' Morbid Obesity Care on Nurses' performance at Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Background : Patients are generally considered morbid obese when their body mass index (BMI) is over 40 kg/m2. Critically ill morbidly obese patient places specific demands on intensive care services as a result of prolonged mechanical ventilation needs. Aim: Evaluate the effect of implementing educational Program about Patients' morbid obesity care on nurses' performance at Intensive Care Unit. Design: Quasi-experimental research design. Subjects: All nurses (70), 40 nurse from Intensive Care Unit of Emergency Hospital of Tanta University and (30) nurses from general ICU of E l m en s h aw y Hospital. Tools: Two tools were used for data collection .Tool (1) Nurseś structured Interview Scheduled and consisted of 2 parts; socio-demographic characteristics of nurses, structure nurses, knowledge interview questionnaire. Tool(2) Nurseś’ observational check list about patient morbid obesity care. Result : The present study revealed that there was a significant improvement in the mean score of the total level of knowledge and practice immediately and post two-months of educational program implementation compared to preprogram with p<0.05. Conculsion . It can be concluded that, most of the studied nurses had high level of knowledge and majority of them had satisfactory practice immediately after program than pre implementation of educational program. Recommendations: In-service training programs should be conducted to maintain efficient nurses' performance.