Knowledge, Practice, and Associated Factors Towards Supplemental Oxygen Therapy Among Nurses Working in Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Public Hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2022: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Purpose

Proper administration of oxygen therapy for hospitalized newborns is undoubtedly essential. World Health Organization estimates that approximately 1.4 million deaths worldwide each year are due to inappropriate administration of oxygen, but its administration in clinical practice is usually inappropriate due to lack of knowledge and practice. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge, practice and associated factors related to supplemental oxygen therapy among nurses working in neonatal intensive care units.

Methods

An institutional cross-sectional study was conducted with 166 randomly selected respondents using a self-administered questionnaire for data collection. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were performed using SPSS version 26. Variables with a p-value of <0.25 in the bivariate analysis were included in the multivariable logistic regression, and statistical significance was ensured by a p-value <0.05 with 95% CI.

Results

One hundred and sixty-six nurses took part in this study, with a response rate of 96%. Of these, 60.8% had good knowledge and 54.2% had good practice in supplemental oxygen therapy. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, work experience was significantly associated with knowledge (AOR: 5.40; 95% CI: 2.12–13.73)) and practice (AOR = 3.69, 95% CI: 1.30–10.44)) of supplemental oxygen therapy. Level of knowledge (AOR=2.92, 95% CI: (1.24–6.86)) and educational status (AOR=6.51, 95% CI (1.34–31.55)) were also significantly associated with the practice of supplemental oxygen therapy with a p < 0.05.

Conclusion

Approximately 40% and 46% of nurses in this study had poor knowledge and practice of supplemental oxygen therapy. This figure is shocking and shows a large gap in the knowledge and practice of supplemental oxygen therapy that requires urgent action. Educational status, professional experience and level of knowledge were found to be associated with good knowledge and professional experience with good practice in relation to supplemental oxygen therapy.

Keywords:

• knowledge
• practice
• neonatal nurse
• oxygen therapy
• neonatal intensive care unit

Abbreviations

NICU, Neonatal intensive care unit; SOT, Supplemental oxygen therapy; SPSS, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences; ROP, Retinopathy of Prematurity.

Data Sharing Statement

The dataset used and/or analyzed during the current study is available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.

Ethics Approval and Informed Consent

This study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Addis Ababa University, College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery (protocol number-023/22/SNM). This letter of ethical clearance was sent to each hospital’s administrative office and official permission was obtained. The study objectives and procedures were disclosed to participants. Thereafter, all study participants were asked to sign an informed written consent form, and all information gathered from each participant was kept confidential.

Consent for Publication

Not applicable in this study

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Addis Ababa University, College of Health Sciences, for providing financial support for data collection. We are thankful to the staff of Tikur-Anbessa Specialized Hospital, St. Paulo’s Hospital, Gandhi Hospital, St. Peter’s Specialized Hospital, and Zewditu Hospital. The authors are grateful to their supervisor and data collectors.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

All authors declared that they have no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, for data collection. The funder had no role in the study design, data collection, and analysis, interpretation of data, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.