Effect of Educational Guidelines on Nurses' Performance Regarding Complications Associated Plasmapheresis for Patients with Autoimmune Disorders

Abstract

Background: Plasmapheresis is extracorpeal removal of plasma from other blood components, discarding and replacing plasma with physiological fluids. A wide variety of immune-mediated diseases can be treated with plasmapheresis.

Aim of study: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of educational guidelines on nurses’ performance regarding complications associated plasmapheresis.

Design: A quasi experimental design was utilized in this study.

Setting: Data was collected from intensive neurological care unit, hemodialysis unit and neurology unit at Zagazig university hospitals.

Subjects: The study was conducted on convenience sample of 40 nurses working in previous departments.

Tools of data collection: Two tools were used for collection of data, first, structured interview questionnaire for nurses, Second tool was an observational check list to assess nurses’ practice regarding plasmapheresis.

Results: 52.5% of nurses aged from 30-40 years, Three quarters were female, 72.5% were married, as well, half  had diploma in nursing, , with 57.5% of them had less than three year experience with plasmapheresis and all nurses didn’t have training course on plasmapheresis and its complications. In pre intervention only five% of studied nurses had total satisfactory knowledge regarding plasmapheresis compared to 87.5% in post intervention, ten % had total satisfactory practice in pre intervention compared to 92.5% in post intervention with statistical significant difference.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that the educational guidelines significantly improved nurses' knowledge and practice regarding plasmapheresis.

Recommendations: It is recommended that periodic evaluation and validation of the training given and training programs should be included both theoretical and practical.