Browsing by Author "Vorster, Humeri"

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    Nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and practices of logrolling patients with a spinal cord injury in the Western Cape Metropole
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-03) Vorster, Humeri; Anthonie, Ramona; Crowley, Talitha; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Nursing & Midwifery.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY: Background: A spinal cord injury (SCI) is potentially a life-threatening crisis. In South African healthcare facilities, the logrolling technique is used throughout the hospitalisation of patients suffering a SCI. Unfortunately, there are inconsistencies in logrolling practices, techniques and nursing practice as well as a lack of standard operating procedures (SOP), staff shortages and differences in nurses’ attitudes towards SCIs; all of these issues are of global concern. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of nurses regarding logrolling SCI patients. The study took place in two tertiary hospitals in the Western Cape Metropole. The objectives of the study were to determine the knowledge and attitudes of nurses towards SCI patients and the logrolling of SCI patients; to determine the practices of nurses when logrolling SCI patients; to determine the management strategies influencing logrolling of SCI patients and to identify factors associated with nurses’ logrolling knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Method: A non-experimental, descriptive research approach was employed. A total of 304 nurses (all registered and enrolled nurses, enrolled nursing assistants) employed in two tertiary hospitals in the Western Cape Metropole formed the study sample. The data was collected between April and July 2021 by means of a structured self-administered questionnaire. The main study had been preceded by a pre-test which involved seven participants, but these results were excluded from the final data analyses. The Health Research Ethics Committee (HREC) of Stellenbosch University granted approval for the study. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 27. Results: The results indicated that nurses generally had good KAP scores: thus, 88.5% of the participants had good knowledge, 93.1% had positive attitudes and 81.9% good practices. However, only 23% of participants reported good management strategies as evidenced by low levels of training (41.1%), the availability of SOPs (35.6%) and lack of sufficient staff (48.4%). Registered nurses and those with more nursing experience were more likely to be knowledgeable (p<0.01 and p=0.01). Participants with positive attitudes were more likely to be knowledgeable (p<0.01), have positive practices (p<0.01) and report good management strategies (p<0.01). There was no association between knowledge and practices (p=0.21). Management strategies were not associated with knowledge (p=0.98) or practices (p=0.19). Conclusion: The results indicated that most participants had good KAP but good management strategies were lacking. Insufficient training, the lack of SOPs and staff shortages may lead to inconsistent practices. Recommendations to address gaps included the development and implementation of a mentorship and training programme and competency tools in logrolling and managing SCI patients. Evidenced-based SOPs and logrolling teams are needed to assist with consistent and safe logrolling especially when there are staff shortages. Finally, frequent evaluation and health checks are needed to address the issue of back injuries suffered by nurses working in SCI units, as this could influence their attitudes and practices.