Effectiveness of Interventional Program on Nurses’ Practices concerning Physiotherapy Protocol at Intensive Care Units in AL-Nasiriyah City

Abstract

Background: Respiratory physiotherapy is a treatment option that addresses secretory elimination and promotes airway clearance, hence reducing breathing workload, promoting lung expansion, and preventing collapse.  Most respiratory disorders benefit from chest physiotherapy as an adjuvant treatment, including COPD, bronchiectasis, and cystic fibrosis, as well as neuromuscular diseases and peri-operative care, particularly in upper abdominal procedures. The goal of the study is to see how effective the intervention program was in altering the nursing staff's practices of physiotherapy protocol in intensive care unit.

Methods: Pre-experimental (one group pre-test- post-test) design was carried out about physiotherapy protocol at an intensive care unit at AL-Nasiriyah Heart Center and AL-Nasiriyah General Hospital in AL-Nasiriyah city. The sample was non-probability (purposive). The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and SPSS.

Results: Statistically significant improvements (pre-test 38.9 %, post-test 84.64%) of nurses’ knowledge and practice of physiotherapy after the educational program.

Conclusion: interventional program has a positive effect for increasing nurses' knowledge and practice of physical therapy protocol. The Application of physiotherapy guidelines issued by the American Association of Respiratory Care’s (AARC) and more studies should be done of the physiotherapy protocol in the intensive care unit.