Assessment Of Quality Of Care Delivred By Clinical Nurses To Sudden Cardiac Arrest (Sca) Patients In The Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua

ABSTRACT

Introduction: This research focused on quality of care delivered by clinical nurses to patients with sudden cardiac arrest in the Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua. Quality of care for patients with sudden cardiac arrest is highly associated with the provider’s knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation processes and quality measures available. However this area is mostly ignored, especially in Ghana.

Objective: To assess quality of care using cardiopulmonary resuscitation knowledge quality as a proxy.

Methods: A cross sectional descriptive survey method was adopted. The population for this research was made up of two hundred and fifty- nine (259) clinical nurses working in the Eastern Regional Hospital in various wards including theatre and casualty departments. A structured questionnaire was used to assess their knowledge of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation process and measures available to monitor quality of care.

Statistical analysis was carried out using STATA Version 13. To ensure easy and quick interpretation, the results were presented in frequencies, mean, proportions and percentages using Chi square and ANOVA.

Results: 160 nurses participated in the study. The average cardiopulmonary resuscitation knowledge level of the nursing professionals was 60% (95% CI: 58; 62). This average was consistent in important units such as Recovery, Surgical and Emergency wards.

Conclusion: The cardiopulmonary resuscitation knowledge quality did not meet the American Heart Association minimum standard (84%) suggesting lower odds of

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quality of care.

Recommendation: Stakeholders in health, need to take SCA as a serious public health problem and put measures such as short training programmes in place to ensure the survival of patients. Appropriate and requisite logistics should be provided to the hospitals since it was a major challenge.

Key Words: Cardiac Arrest, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, quality of care, theoretical knowledge, standard guidelines, Koforidua.