Maternity Nurses' Knowledge and Practice Regarding Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting Risk Screening

Ibrahim Soliman, Yaman; Mohamed Ibrahim, Randa; Morsy Yousef, Amira; Ezzat Said, Nageya

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2025.461422

Maternity Nurses' Knowledge and Practice Regarding Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting Risk Screening

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ (1) B.Sc. Nursing, 2017, Nursing specialist at EL-Khosous Central Hospital.

² (2) Professor of Maternal and Neonatal Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University.

³ (3) Assist Professor of Maternal and Neonatal Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University.

⁴ (4) Lecturer of Maternal and Neonatal Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University

10.21608/ejhc.2025.461422

Abstract

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is any nausea or vomiting within the first 24 hours after surgery that may lead to many physical and psychological complications. Aim of the study: To assess maternity nurses' knowledge and practice regarding postoperative nausea and vomiting risk screening. Design: A descriptive exploratory study was utilized. Setting: The study was conducted at operating departments of EL-Khosous Central Hospital. Sample: Convenient sample consisted of 54 nurses working in the previously mentioned setting. Tools: two tools were used. Tool I: A structured interview questionnaire sheet to assess nurses' socio-demographic characteristics and nurses' knowledge regarding PONV and Apfel's risk screening tool. Tool II: Maternity nurses practice observational checklist. Result: 88.9% of the studied sample had unsatisfactory knowledge regarding postoperative nausea and vomiting risk screening, 87% of the studied sample had unsatisfactory knowledge regarding postoperative nausea and vomiting and 94.4% of the studied sample had unsatisfactory knowledge regarding Apfel's score as screening tool for PONV. In addition, 96.3% of the studied sample were had incompetent practice towards postoperative nausea and vomiting risk screening using Apfel's score. Conclusion: Most of the studied nurses had unsatisfactory knowledge of regarding postoperative nausea and vomiting risk screening. Also, the most of them had incompetent practice towards postoperative nausea and vomiting risk screening using Apfel's score. Recommendation: Conducting educational and training programmers to improve maternity nurses' knowledge and practice regarding postoperative nausea and vomiting risk screening using Apfel's score.

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