Effect of Nursing Guidelines Regarding Safety Measures on Occurrence of Injuries among Adolescents with Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease affecting the central nervous system. Multiple sclerosis
occurs when the immune system attacks nerve fibers and myelin sheathing in the brain and spinal
cord. Aim: the current study aimed to evaluate the effect of nursing guidelines regarding safety
measures on occurrence of injuries among adolescents with multiple sclerosis. Design: pre-posttest
quasi-experimental research design was utilized in the current study. Setting: The study was
conducted in the multiple sclerosis unit (out patients clinics) at Al-Kasr Al-Ainy Hospital. Sample:
A purposive sample of 50 adolescents with MS aged from 12-18 years, free from any other central
nervous system disorders and had previous exposure to injuries (falling, bruises, sprains, cuts,
burns, choking, poisoning and drowning). Tools: Data collection was done through 1) Structured
Interviewing Questionnaire Sheet, 2) Pre/post Knowledge assessment Questionnaire, 3) Pre/post
Reported Practices Checklist and 4) Injures Occurrence Recording Sheet. Results: nearly half of
selected adolescents (46%) aged from 16-18 with mean= 15.1± 0.6. More than three quarters (76%)
of adolescents were female while 48% of them had the second rank in their families. Selected
adolescents with MS suffered from fatigue, numbness and tingling, pain, thinking, and learning
problems presented as 88%, 84%, 80%, and 80% respectively. 62% of adolescents with multiple
sclerosis were diagnosed less than 12 months. 92% of them were hospitalized and 36% of them
were due to complications. Exposed to falling, bruises, sprains, cuts, burns, choking, poisoning, and
drowning (46%, 60%, 44%, 34%, 38%, 12%, 6% 10% respectively) among the selected adolescents
with multiple sclerosis before intervention. Less exposed to injures as falling 24%, bruises 38%,
sprains 32%, cuts 22%, burns 22%, choking 6%, poisoning 6%, and drowning 4% respectively after
received nursing guidelines among the adolescence with MS. There were highly statistically
significant differences before and after nursing guidelines at P ≤ 0.01. Conclusion: The current
study concluded that the adolescents with MS who receive nursing guidelines for safety measures
had higher mean score of knowledge and reported practice than before with highly statistically
significant differences. Adolescents after receiving the nursing guidelines for safety measures less
exposed to injuries than before. Recommendation: Conducting nursing guidelines for safety
measures for adolescents with MS and their caregivers in MS unit (outpatient clinics / inpatient
section).and Applying educational program for adolescents with MS regarding developed nursing
guidelines for safety measures in different community setting as schools, family health centers.