Effect of mothers' empowerment guildelines about caring for children with cast on their knowledge and children selected outcomes

Abstract

Casts are used to keep the bones and soft tissues lined up and protected while they are healing. A cast wraps completely around the arm or leg and is custom-made for the patient. It can only be taken off with a specialized cast saw. Casts also protect wounds after surgery while it heals. The hard, immobile part of most custom made casts is made from plaster or fiberglass . Aim of the study: evaluate the effect of mothers' empowerment guidelines about caring for children with cast on their knowledge and children selected outcomes. Research Design: Pre-posttest quasi-experimental research design will be used to fulfill the current study's goal. Setting: The current study was conducted at the orthopedic surgical unit and pediatric orthopedic outpatient clinic at Cairo University Specialized Pediatric Hospital (CUSPH). Participants: A purposive sample of 60 mothers whose children with cast, divided equally to study and control groups. Data collection tools: Structured Interview Questionnaire, Mother's Knowledge & Practices Assessment Sheet, and Post Cardiac Catheterization Assessment Record were used. Results: There was a significant statistical difference in the total mean scores for children's outcomes between both groups, as well as, in the mean scores for mothers' knowledge and practice between before and after empowerment guidelines implementation. Conclusion: there was a significant increase in knowledge and reported practice in caring for children with cast following empowerment guidelines. Moreover, children of mothers who received empowerment guidance had better cast's outcomes. Recommendation: Extensive prospective randomized studies required to enhance outcomes.