What Do Nurses and Residents Know about Childhood Asthma?

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:To assess residents' and pediatric nurses' basic knowledge of childhood asthma and to identify areas needing educational reinforcement. DESIGN: Survey using a validated self-administered questionnaire containing 25 true-false and six short open-ended questions. PARTICIPANTS: Pediatric residents and family medicine residents who were on rotation at a tertiary care pediatric hospital over a six-month period, and pediatric nurses on duty in the emergency department, on the wards and on the pediatric intensive care unit over a month period. RESULTS: The participation rate was 80% (28 of 35) of pediatric residents, 89% (33 of 37) of family medicine residents, and 50% (81 of 163) of pediatric nurses. The mean score (± standard deviation) on the 31-point questionnaire was 27.7±1.8 for pediatric residents, 25.5±3.6 for family medicine residents, and 22.3±3.8 for pediatric nurses (ANOVA, P<0.001). Most (at least 75%) participants correctly identified bronchospasm and airway inflammation as two potential mechanisms of asthma and were able to list three routinely used drugs to treat exacerbations. However, 32% of pediatric residents, 12% of family medicine residents and 72% of pediatric nurses failed to identify all three main symptoms of asthma (wheezing, cough, dyspnea). Although most participants recognized that children with frequent exacerbations should receive prophylactic therapy, 25% of pediatric residents, 52% of family medicine residents and 81% of pediatric nurses were unable to name at least two preventive asthma medications. More than 50% of participants could not name two drugs used in the prevention of exerciseinduced asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Residents and nurses had adequate basic knowledge of the treatment of acute exacerbations. However, most individuals needed reinforcement in preventive asthma therapy and daily management.

Knowledge about childhood bronchial asthma among primary health care personnel in eastern Saudi Arabia

“…This result was similar to Lemay et al, study who reported that 32% of pediatric residents, 12% of family medicine residents and 72% of pediatric nurses failed to identify all three main symptoms of asthma (wheezing, cough, dyspnea). [16] In Lemay et al, study, 25% of pediatric residents, 52% of family medicine residents and 81% of pediatric nurses were unable to name at least two preventive asthma medications. [16] However, another study in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia, showed poor knowledge of PHC physicians on asthma care, where they got 37.7% of the total scoring of case scenarios on asthma care.…”

“…[16] In Lemay et al, study, 25% of pediatric residents, 52% of family medicine residents and 81% of pediatric nurses were unable to name at least two preventive asthma medications. [16] However, another study in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia, showed poor knowledge of PHC physicians on asthma care, where they got 37.7% of the total scoring of case scenarios on asthma care. [16] In this study there were defi ciencies in knowledge mainly concerning the role of exercise and management of asthma.…”

“…[16] However, another study in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia, showed poor knowledge of PHC physicians on asthma care, where they got 37.7% of the total scoring of case scenarios on asthma care. [16] In this study there were defi ciencies in knowledge mainly concerning the role of exercise and management of asthma. Continuing medical education should focus on these areas especially for nurses who had unsatisfactory knowledge as shown by the signifi cantly lower mean knowledge compared to physicians.…”

“…The results were in agreement with other studies among PHC physicians and nurses. [10,11,13,[15][16][17] A study of the level of knowledge about childhood asthma showed that general practitioners scored well in most questions but had some defi ciencies particularly in distinguishing preventive therapy from symptom-relieving medication. [10] Pediatric nurses in the previous study had poor knowledge of exerciseinduced asthma, which is similar to the result of the present study.…”