Thai trauma nurses' knowledge of neuroprotective nursing care of traumatic brain injury patients: A survey study

Misconceptions about traumatic brain injury among nursing students: A cross-sectional study

AIM

This study aimed to evaluate nursing students' potential misconceptions about traumatic brain injuries and the relationship between these misconceptions and students' sociodemographic characteristics.

BACKGROUND

Although traumatic brain injuries have severe consequences, misconceptions about traumatic brain injury are widespread among healthcare professionals. Studying misconceptions about traumatic brain injury among nursing students can help enhance nursing curricula for better traumatic brain injury care and rehabilitation.

DESIGN

This is a cross-sectional observational study reported according to the STROBE guideline.

METHODS

We conducted a survey among nursing students in Morocco using a questionnaire "Common Misconceptions about Traumatic Brain Injury". A total of 550 nursing students from multiple nursing institutes in different cities in Morocco participated in the study. We calculated the average percentage of misconceptions for 7 different questionnaire domains. To study the relationship between misconceptions and sociodemographic factors, we used a t-test for independent samples and ANOVA, considering the total score for each participant.

RESULTS

Out of the 550 nursing students who participated in the study, most were female and the 20-21 years old category represented two-thirds of our sample. The domain related to "Amnesia" had the highest rate of misconceptions, followed by "Recovery", while the "brain damage" domain had the lowest rate of misconceptions. The overall mean score of misconceptions was higher than the value defined in our study as a reference cut-off. Interestingly, there were significant differences in the total score of misconceptions based on variables such as age, state of origin, city of the Institute and year of study.

CONCLUSIONS

Misconceptions about traumatic brain injuries were prevalent among nursing students, which could have a negative impact on patient assessment, treatment and education. The findings indicate the need to improve the level of knowledge related to traumatic brain injury among nursing students and to strengthen the nursing curriculum in Morocco.

Evidence-practice gaps in initial neuro-protective nursing care: A mixed methods study of Thai patients with moderate or severe traumatic brain injury

AIMS

This paper aims to identify the frequency and nature of evidence-practice gaps in the initial neuro-protective nursing care of patients with moderate or severe traumatic brain injury provided by Thai trauma nurses.

BACKGROUND

Little is known about how Thai trauma nurses use evidence-based practice when providing initial neuro-protective nursing care to patients with moderate or severe traumatic brain injury.

DESIGN

A mixed methods design was used to conduct this study.

METHODS

Data were collected from January to March 2017 using observations and audits of the clinical care of 22 patients by 35 nurses during the first 4 h of admission to trauma ward. The study site was a regional hospital in Southern Thailand.

RESULTS

The major evidence-practice gaps identified were related to oxygen and carbon dioxide monitoring and targets, mean arterial pressure and systolic blood pressure targets and management of increased intracranial pressure through patient positioning and pain and agitation management.

CONCLUSION

There were evidence-practice gaps in initial neuro-protective nursing care provided by Thai trauma nurses that need to be addressed to improve the safety and quality of care for Thai patients with moderate or severe traumatic brain injury.