Assessment of Nurses Performance Regarding External Ventricular Drain among Children with Brain Tumor

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 BSc. in Nursing 2002

2 Professor of Pediatric Nursing- Faculty of Nursing- Ain Shams University

3 Lecturer of Neurosurgery- Faculty of Medicine- Cairo University.

Abstract

Background: Brain tumors are the second most common childhood malignancies, after
hematologic malignancies and are the most common pediatric solid organ tumor. External
Ventricular Drain (EVD) is indicated for management of infection, intra ventricular
hemorrhage, intra cranial pressure monitor or after tumor excision. Aim: This study aimed to
assess nurses' performance regarding external ventricular drain among children with brain
tumor. Design: A descriptive design was used. Setting: Inpatient Departments and Surgical
Intensive Care Unit at Children Cancer Hospital Foundation in Cairo, Egypt (57357). Subject:
A purposive sample included 100 nurses out of total number 152 nurses who work in the
previously mentioned setting. Tools: Two tools were used; interviewing questionnaire sheet
and observational checklist. Results: Most of studied nurses were females and also more than
two thirds of them have competent practices. Moreover, there was a highly statistical
significant difference between both nurses’ total knowledge and total practice and their age and
years of experience. Conclusion: Slightly more than two thirds of studied nurses have
unsatisfactory knowledge while more than three quarters of them were competent in caring of
EVD among children with brain tumor. There was no correlation between nurses' total
knowledge and their total practices regarding care of EVD among children with brain tumor.
Recommendations: Development of educational guidelines based on evidence-based nursing
practices to promote excellence of nursing care and provides high-quality patient care regarding
children with EVD.

Keywords