Abstract

Dr. Ram Sharan Mehta

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death globally. Cardio vascular disease remains a major health problem, causing high mortality and morbidity all over the world.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess the Knowledge regarding Care of Patient with Pacemaker among the Nurses working at selected wards of BPKIHS and to find out the association between knowledge with their selected socio-demographic variables.

Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to conduct the study among the Nurses working at selected wards of BPKIHS. Total 69 subjects meeting the eligibility criteria were included in the study using total enumerative sampling technique. Data were collected using the questionnaire.

Results: The study findings revealed that majority of the nurses were from PCL nursing background (75.4%), unmarried (62.3%), <4 yrs total nursing service experience (59.4%), working in critical care unit (55.1%) and <25 yrs age group (53.6%). The knowledge score of majority of the nurses were about natural pacemaker of heart (97%), function of pacemaker is to regulate heart rhythm (91%), pacemaker works as fast emergency treatment(82%), care of patient with pacemaker (77.53%), indication of pacemaker is complete heart block (69%), complication of temporary pacemaker is ventricular tachycardia (66%), the difference between single & dual chamber pacemaker (61.20%),  evidence of infection and failure of pacemaker implantation (50.72%), discharge teaching of patient(70.53%). The mean score for the overall knowledge of the nurses was 67.6%. The knowledge with age & area of service of the nurses was associated significantly at 5% significance (p< 0.05) i.e. nurses of >25 years of age & working in critical care unit had adequate knowledge (p=0.001) respectively.

Conclusion: The study concluded that nearly one fourth of the nurses had satisfactory knowledge regarding care of patients with pacemaker among nurses working at selected wards of BPKIHS. The socio demographic characteristics: age and working ward was only associated with the knowledge regarding care of patients with pacemaker among nurses working at selected wards of BPKIHS.