Research article

EFFECT OF A DYSPHAGIA ASSESSMENT EDUCATION PROGRAM ON NURSES’ KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REGARDING EARLY DETECTION AND PREVENTION OF ASPIRATION FOR PATIENT WITH STROKE

Amoura Soliman Behairy, Fayza Ahmed Abdou Mohammed Komsan, Engy E. Eldoushy

Online First: August 30, 2022


Background: Dysphagia is one of the most prominent symptoms in patients with acute stroke. It is an independent predictor of poor prognosis following acute stroke, can become chronic after the acute phase, and affects all aspects of the patient's life. Nurses have a vital role in the early detection and identification of signs and symptoms of dysphagia in patients with stroke on admission. Aim: This research was conducted to assess the effect of the dysphagia assessment education programme on nurses’ knowledge and skills regarding early detection and prevention of aspiration for patients with stroke. Design: A quasi-experimental research design was used to accomplish the study's aim. Setting: The study was conducted in the general intensive care unit and stroke unit at Menoufia University Hospital. Subjects: A convenient sample of forty nurses provide direct patient care in the previously mentioned setting, and forty patients are diagnosed with acute stroke. Tools: Three tools were used in this study: the dysphagia assessment questionnaire (tool I), the acute stroke dysphagia screen (tool II), and the patient assessment outcomes (tool III). Results: A statistically significant improvement was found between nurses’ knowledge and skills before and immediately following the implementation of the education programme, as well as an improvement in the overall nurses’ knowledge about acute stroke dysphagia and early detection of patient aspiration. Conclusion: The level of knowledge and skills possessed by nurses was generally improved following the implementation of an education programme about dysphagia assessment and early identification of patient aspiration. Recommendations: Nursing continuing education in the assessment of a dysphagia programme is essential for the early diagnosis of aspiration in patients with stroke and, as a result, its consequences.

Keywords

Acute stroke, Dysphagia, Education program, Nurses knowledge and skills