Nurses Knowledge and Practice Regarding Supplemental Oxygen Therapy at Kirkuk City Teaching Hospitals/Iraq

Abstract

Background: Oxygen therapy mean the clinical use of supplemental oxygen. It is considered in the treatment of many life-threatening diseases such as respiratory failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and others. Particularly now, with the spread of the Coronavirus outbreak, it has become the main use to save the patients' lives and care for them. It is indicated in patients with acute hypoxemia (PaO2 less than 60 mm Hg orSaO2 less than 90%) or those with symptoms of chronic hypoxemia. As a result, the nurse should be a professional at performing this procedure.  Methods: A structured questionnaire was used in cross-sectional study, during the period from (14 January 2021 to 20 April 2021). Anon-probability (purposive) sample was selected from nurses currently working at an emergency medical unit (EMUs), intensive care units (ICU) cardiac care unit (CCU) at Kirkuk city teaching and general hospitals. The size of the sample was (120) nurses, this study aims to assess the knowledge and practice of nurses in emergency medical units (EMUs), intensive care units (ICU) cardiac care unit (CCU) in kirkuk city teaching hospitals. The scoring method was adopted from a previous study, a few manipulations in questions relating to nurses’ knowledge and practice were added to the original items. good knowledge and good practice were recorded for nurses who scored above the mean result for the knowledge and practice questions. Poor knowledge and poor practice scores were given to nurses who scored below the mean result for the knowledge and practice questions The data were analyzed by applying descriptive and inferential data (P≤ 0.05). Results: Only one-third of nurses had a good practice on supplemental oxygen administration. Nurses who had good knowledge of supplemental oxygen administration were 10-times [AOR]=10.87,95% CI=3.25–30.51) more likely to have a good practice of supplemental oxygen administration than those who had poor knowledge of supplemental oxygen administration. Conclusion: knowledge and practice among nurses working in Kirkuk city teaching hospitals and General Hospital had a clear gap. The knowledge and practice level of nurses in this study is low compared with others. The possible factors were identified, such as lack of supplemental oxygen therapy training, absence of supplemental oxygen administration standard guidelines, workload, and inadequate supply of oxygen and delivery devices.