Preparatory training of primary health care nurses for handling health education regarding prophylaxis of circulatory disorders
Mojsa, W.; Owłasiuk, A.
Wiadomosci Lekarskie 57 Suppl. 1: 223-226
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0043-5147 PMID: 15884244 Document Number: 583743
Circulatory disorders (CD) exhibit high incidence rate. At the same time the increasing number of data indicate that most of these disorders can be prevented. Prophylaxis is one of the professional functions of nurses. The preventive tasks included in this function are of special importance in achieving the goals of the National Health Programme and international CINDI WHO Programme--a model programme for the prophylaxis of chronic diseases and health promotion. The necessity exists to enhance the preventive actions, of which health education is an integral part. Therefore, it seems essential to prepare the nurses to conduct health education in the field of circulatory disorders. The aim of the study was to answer the following questions: 1. Do the primary health care nurses think that they are sufficiently prepared to conduct health education among their patients on the prophylaxis of circulatory disorders? 2. What sources do they use to obtain the knowledge about the prophylaxis of circulatory disorders? 3. Do they understand the need of getting and additional training in the prophylaxis of circulatory disorders and to what extent? The research problem was to determine whether there is a difference in responses between two groups: 1. nurses with secondary education and specialization and 2. nurses without specialization. The study involved all the nurses employed in the primary health care centres in Białystok. Questionnaire was the research tool. 172 questionnaire forms were distributed, of which 146 were properly filled in. The study shows that the nurses with secondary education and specialization declared preparation to conduct education concerning the prophylaxis of circulatory disorders significantly more often than the nurses with secondary education without specialization. Worth noting is the fact, that the nurses with secondary education without specialization uttered a smaller need of additional training than those with secondary education and specialization. Nurses should be made aware of the necessity to enrich the knowledge in the field of methods, didactic materials and interpersonal communication in order to make health education more effective.