Browsing by Author "Kiruja, Gitonga Jason"

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    Determinants of Supplemental Oxygen Therapy Competencies among Nurses Working in Paediatric Wards in Kajiado County, Kenya
    (Kenyatta University, 2024-02) Kiruja, Gitonga Jason
    Hypoxaemia is common in paediatric patients and increases the risk of mortality fivefold in patients with varied diagnoses. Patients miss supplemental oxygen therapy or get inappropriate oxygen therapy due to a deficit of clinical knowledge and skills on supplemental oxygen therapy among nurses resulting in (impact). The main objective of this study was to establish determinants of supplemental oxygen therapy competencies among nurses working in paediatric wards in Kajiado County, Kenya. The research was a cross-sectional hospital-based survey. The study was carried out in the four main public hospitals in Kajiado County involving the 81 nurses who work in the paediatric wards. The 81 nurses were invited to the study and after consenting they filled a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaires were clinical vignettes and direct questions. Responses from the questionnaires were cleaned and coded and then keyed into the SPSS version 27 computer programme for data analysis, the data was also coded in R studio statistical programme for further analysis. In the study 75.3% (n=55) of the nurses working in Kajiado County paediatric department, demonstrated competence in oxygen therapy while 24.7% (n=18) of the nurses working in paediatric wards in Kajiado County demonstrated less competence in oxygen therapy. There were gaps in knowledge and practice on oxygen therapy, not all nurses were able to make the correct diagnosis of hypoxaemia and hypoxia and selecting the right oxygen dosage. This indicates the need for continued in-service training of all cadres of nurses on oxygen therapy