Effect of Evidence-Based Guidelines on Nurses' Knowledge and Practice Regarding Management of Post Lumbar Puncture Headache in Children with Meningitis

Abstract

: Background: Meningitis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. It is diagnosed via lumbar puncture that its most consequence in children is headache, so evidence-based practice guidelines offer direction for headache management. The study's aim was analyzing the effect of evidence-based guidelines on nurses' knowledge and practice regarding management of post lumbar puncture headache. Research design: A quasi experimental design. Setting: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Benha Fever Hospital. Study sample was a convenient sample consisted of all nurses worked in selected setting (40) . Tools of data collection included Tool (I) A structured Interviewing Questionnaire Sheet that consisted of; Part (1): Personal characteristics of nurses. Part (2): Nurses' knowledge regarding post lumbar puncture headache . Tool (II): Lumbar puncture observational checklist. The results revealed that there was highly statistical significance difference between nurses’ total level of knowledge and practice regarding post lumbar puncture headache in the studied nurses pre compared to post guidelines. It is concluded that evidence-based practice guidelines significantly improved nurses' knowledge and practices regarding management of post lumbar puncture headache in children. Recommendation is designing a standard for nursing practice regarding management of post lumbar puncture headache in children.