intra uterine fetal monitoring

Abstract

TITLE:

A descriptive study to assess the knowledge on Intra Uterine Fetal monitoring among staff nurses, working at Tayma General hospital, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction:

A number of actions or procedures would be helpful in detecting and documenting that the fetus is healthy. Feeling a fetus move is often the trigger that makes having a baby real for many women. The more women know about fetal development. The easier it is for them to begin to think of the pregnancy not as something interesting happening to them; but an act that is producing a separate life.

Objective:

1.      To assess the knowledge of staff nurses regarding Intra Uterine Fetal monitoring.

2.      To associate the knowledge with selected demographic variables like years of experience, age, educational qualification, nationality etc.

Design: 

Quantitative study approach with Descriptive cross sectional study design was adopted

Setting:

The study was conducted in Maternity Ward at Tayma general hospital.

Participants:

 Staff nurses, working in maternity ward of Tayma General Hospital, who are involved in direct mother care (Diploma nurses and B.Sc. Nurses).

Measurement and Tools:

 The level of knowledge was assessed by self administered structured questionnaire. This has 2 sessions. First session is demographic variables such as age, total years of experience as staff nurse , years of  experience in maternity ward, nationality of the staff nurses and educational qualification, and second session includes 20 knowledge related question on intra uterine monitoring.

Result:

The mean score of knowledge is 14.14 with the standard deviation of 3.2.

Percentage distribution of knowledge among nurses shows that 10% have inadequate of knowledge, 55% have moderate knowledge, and 35% have adequate knowledge. Thus the study suggests that increase in qualification as well as nationality of the staff nurses obviously increases the knowledge. 

Conclusion: most of the fetal abnormalities are identified in the first trimester itself. But it needs adequate skill and knowledge. Among obstetricians as well as staff nurses working in obstetric and gynecological department. Early diagnosis of FGR is very important, because it permits the etiological identification and adequate monitoring of fetal vitality, minimizing the risks related to prematurity and intrauterine hypoxia. It is necessary for staff nurses to have adequate knowledge on intrauterine growth monitoring techniques.

Reference:

1.      Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, July 2012, Volume 286, Issue 1, pp 1-13

2.      Dr K. Hecher et all , Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, Volume 18, Issue 6, pages 564–570, December 2001

3.      High-Risk Pregnancy Series: An Expert's View, Obstetrics & Gynecology:March 2002 - Volume 99 - Issue 3 - p 490–496

4. Boulet SL, Alexander GR, Salihu HM, Kirby RS, Carlo WA. Fetal growth risk curves: defining levels of fetal growth restriction by neonatal death risk. Am J Obstet Gynecol2006;195:1571-7.