Knowledge and Practice of Nurses Regarding Post-Operative Oxygen Therapy of Pediatric Patients in Tertiary Care Hospitals of Peshawar
This cross-sectional study of 140 nurses in Peshawar's tertiary care hospitals reveals that while participants generally possess adequate knowledge of post-operative oxygen therapy for pediatric patients, there is a notable gap in translating this knowledge into optimal clinical practice, underscoring the need for continuous in-service training and competency-based education.
Original paper licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). This is an AI-generated explanation of the paper below. It is not written or endorsed by the authors. For technical accuracy, refer to the original paper. Read full disclaimer
Imagine a hospital as a bustling, high-speed train station. The passengers are children who have just finished a surgery, and they are tired, their bodies still waking up from the deep sleep of anesthesia. In this station, there is a very special, invisible fuel called oxygen. It's like the electricity that keeps the lights on in a house; without it, the body's engines sputter and stall. But here's the tricky part: oxygen is a double-edged sword. Give too little, and the train stops; give too much, or give it in the wrong way, and you might damage the engine itself.
The people in charge of managing this fuel are the nurses. They are the conductors who decide how much oxygen to pour, when to check the gauges, and how to make sure the delivery system is safe and comfortable. But being a conductor isn't just about knowing the rules of the road; it's about actually driving the train smoothly. This paper asks a simple but vital question: Do the nurses in Peshawar, Pakistan, know the rules of the road, and are they actually driving the train the right way? It's a story about the gap between knowing the map and actually taking the journey.
The Map vs. The Journey
This study zoomed in on 140 nurses working in the pediatric surgical wards and intensive care units of three big hospitals in Peshawar. The researchers wanted to see if these nurses knew the "textbook" rules about giving oxygen to kids after surgery, and more importantly, if they were actually doing it correctly in the real world. Think of it like a driving test: one part is the written exam (knowledge), and the other is the actual drive (practice).
The Written Exam: They Know the Rules
When the nurses took the written test, they did pretty well. Out of a possible 38 points, the average score was 28.45. That's a solid B-plus!
- The High Scores: Almost everyone (100%) knew the main goal of oxygen therapy, and nearly all of them (97.9%) knew when it was needed. They were also great at checking oxygen levels in the blood.
- The Tricky Questions: However, there were some bumps in the road. Only about 38% of the nurses realized that just being out of breath (without low oxygen) isn't always a reason to give oxygen. Similarly, fewer than 40% knew the right rules about using non-rebreather masks for kids who need a lot of oxygen.
- The Winners: The study found that nurses who had taken special training classes and those with more years of experience were the ones who aced the test. It's like a driver who has taken a defensive driving course and has logged more miles on the road—they know the rules better.
The Actual Drive: Good, But Not Perfect
Now, let's look at how they drove the train. The researchers asked the nurses to report on their daily habits. The average score here was 32.18 out of 48. This is a "fair" grade, but it's not perfect.
- The Smooth Parts: The nurses were excellent at the serious stuff. Nearly 99% of them always checked the doctor's prescription before turning on the oxygen, and they were very good at washing their hands and throwing away old equipment properly.
- The Rough Spots: The problems showed up in the "comfort" and "communication" areas. Only about half of the nurses (50%) always made sure the oxygen tubes were tucked behind the ears comfortably. Even fewer (48.6%) used soft gauze pads to protect the skin behind the ears. And only about two-thirds (66.4%) always introduced themselves to the scared, post-surgery kids before starting the treatment.
- The Gap: Here is the big discovery: There is a gap between what the nurses know and what they do. The study found a strong link between high knowledge and good practice, but it also showed that even when nurses know the rules, they don't always follow every single step perfectly in the busy hospital environment.
Why the Gap Exists
The paper suggests that while the nurses have the knowledge, the real-world chaos of a hospital might get in the way. High patient loads, busy shifts, and the sheer stress of the job can make it hard to remember the little details, like putting a soft pad behind a child's ear or taking a moment to say hello. The study explicitly rules out the idea that the nurses are just "ignorant"; they aren't. They know the science. The issue is translating that science into perfect, consistent action every single time.
The Takeaway
The researchers conclude that the nurses in Peshawar are well-educated and generally competent, but there is room for improvement. They suggest that more training and better support systems are needed to help nurses turn their "good" knowledge into "great" practice. It's not about teaching them the rules of the road again; it's about helping them drive the train with the same care and attention to detail that they already have on their test papers. The goal is to make sure every child gets the right amount of oxygen, delivered in the safest and most comfortable way possible.
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