Effect of self-care nursing instructions on reducing specific potential local complications among patients with limbs plaster cast
Jehan Abd-Elrahim Mohammed, Rokaia Fathi Mohammed, Eman Fadl Abd-Elkhalik
Orthopedic casting is a routine procedure used for managing fractures in all age groups. Patient counseling is considered as the most valuable tool to ensure proper cast maintenance and improve patient outcomes.
Aim of the study: To investigate the effect of self-care nursing instructions on reducing specific potential local complications among patients with limbs plaster cast.
Research design: Quazi experimental research design (pre-posttest) was utilized.
Setting: Orthopedic clinic and department of Minia university hospital, Egypt.
Sample: The purposive sample technique was used to select 60 patients with a newly applied upper or lower limb plaster cast.
Tools: Three tools were utilized for collecting data of this study.
First tool: A structured interview questionnaire was developed and filled by the researchers to assess sociodemographic, medical data and cast patient's knowledge and practice about cast care.
Second tool: Pain numerical rating Scale.
The third tool: Was a Post-applied cast assessment tool used to assess the incidence of any signs and symptoms of potential local complications.
Results: There was a highly statistically significant improvement of the patients' knowledge and self-care practices about cast care which consequently leads to a low incidence of specific potential cast complications among them.
Conclusion: Implementation of self- care nursing instructions was effective in improving knowledge and practice about cast care as well as reflected low incidence of potential local complications among patients with limb plaster casts.
Recommendations: Applying nursing interventions regarding cast care on a large sample and other different types and locations of the orthopedic cast and measuring the effect of nursing intervention on reducing both local and systemic complications. Designing and implementing an educational training program for orthopedic nurses to improve the quality of care before, during, and after casting.
Jehan Abd-Elrahim Mohammed, Rokaia Fathi Mohammed, Eman Fadl Abd-Elkhalik. Effect of self-care nursing instructions on reducing specific potential local complications among patients with limbs plaster cast. Int J Adv Res Nurs 2020;3(1):54-61. DOI: 10.33545/nursing.2020.v3.i1a.80