Effect of Structured Teaching Programme on Knowledge and Practice of Aseptic Techniques among Operation Theatre Nurses in a Selected Hospital

In this new era, everyone seeks high quality care either in hospital or community. Some of the key areas of emphasis in the current efforts are to reform health care include preventing hospital infection and coordinating such a care. For coordinating the care of a patient each department in the hospital plays a significant role, among whom the role of operation theatre personnel is very important. In 2000, a study was conducted among the Indian hospital patients regarding the health care associated infections especially the post operative infections. The result shows 5000–15,000 die every year due to the post operative infections.

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of structured teaching programme on knowledge and practice of aseptic techniques among operation theatre nurses in a selected hospital, Thrissur.

A pre experimental evaluative study was conducted using one group pre test post test design. Fifty operation theatre nurses were selected based on non probability purposive sampling technique. The tools used for data collection were demographic variables, structured knowledge questionnaire and practice checklist on aseptic techniques.

The data analyses were done by using percentage analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics. The major findings includes, overall knowledge score of 21.02 (52.55%) in the pre test and 39.08 (97.7%) in the post test, and overall practice score of 23.14 (57.85%) in the pre test and 37.70 (94.25%) in the post test. The calculated paired t test value for pre and post test mean score of knowledge was 33.624 at df (49) and pre and post test mean scores of practice was 65.162 at df (49). Both t values were statistically significant at 0.01 level. There was no correlation and the calculated Karl Pearson correlation coefficient (r= -0.012) was not statistically significant. There was no association found between knowledge and practice score with selected demographic variables.

It was concluded that the structured teaching programme on aseptic technique was effective in improve the knowledge and practice of operation theatre nurses.