Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Barriers regarding sepsis and sepsis management among Emergency nurses and physicians in Palestinian Hospitals. رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

Sepsis is a widespread problem that can create clinical and economic difficulties. Fever is one of the first symptoms of sepsis that is usually diagnosed first in emergency departments and in emergency triage rooms to identify appropriate treatment, reduce mortality, and improve patient outcomes. This study was aimed to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, practices, identify the biggest barriers related to the sepsis and sepsis management among emergency nurses and physicians and examine the association between the knowledge, attitudes, practices and social demographic characteristics among participants. Methodology: The study was applied in most Palestinian hospitals from February to June 2021. Quantitative data was collected using self-questionnaire completed by the participant nurses and physicians (n=243) were selected by convenient sample from 17 emergency departments with a response rate 61%. Descriptive and inferential statistic were used to assess the level of emergency nurses and physicians’ knowledge attitude practice and identify of biggest barrier. Pilot study was implemented to ensure the clarity and accuracy of items. vii Result: The study results revealed that emergency nurses mean knowledge, attitudes and practices of sepsis and sepsis management, was 49.8%, 30.9%, and 48.3% respectively, and emergency physicians mean knowledge, attitudes and practices of sepsis and sepsis management, was 51.3%, 34.5%, and 50.9% respectively. Emergency nurses and physicians had a poor to moderate level of knowledge and emergency physicians had higher attitudes regarding sepsis and sepsis management than emergency nurses. However, the practices of sepsis and sepsis management were moderate levels among emergency nurses and physicians. It is evident that lack of monitoring equipment is the biggest barrier to providing quality care to patients who present with sepsis toward emergency nurses and physicians. Conclusion: Emergency nurses and physicians need consistent sepsis management information by implementation of training, continuous educational programs, development of an approved protocol can improve nurses ‘knowledge, attitudes and practices. That’s important to providing monitoring equipment, staff, and laboratories with diagnostic resources in emergency departments to improve the management of sepsis patients.