A Study to assess the Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme on Knowledge and Practice Regarding Prevention of Selected Complications of Immobilization among the Patients with Orthopedic Disorders in RMMCH, Chidambaram

Patients on the orthopedic service are almost immobilized which may lead to complication. These complications are easy to prevent rather than to treat. The objectives were (i) to assess the existing knowledge and practice, (ii) to evaluate the effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme on knowledge and practice and (iii) to find the association between the pretest knowledge and practice regarding the prevention of complications of immobilization with the selected demographic variables. The study was conducted among 50 immobilized patients with orthopedic disorders in RMMCH, Chidambaram chosen by convenient sampling technique. The data was collected using structured-interview schedule regarding knowledge and observational checklist for practice on prevention of selected complications of immobilization. The intervention was given as STP on pressure ulcer, deep vein thrombosis, contracture and constipation by using power point. One week later a posttest was conducted by using the same structured-interview questionnaire and observation checklist. The study revealed that in the pretest 12 patients (24%) had moderately adequate knowledge, 38 patients (76%) had inadequate knowledge all the patients 50 (100%) had poor level of practice and after STP regarding prevention of selected complications all the patients 50 (100%) had adequate knowledge and good level of practice. There was significant association between the clinical variable surgery with existing level of knowledge (p=0.013) and practice (p=0.037) regarding prevention of selected complications. The effectiveness of STP was statistically tested by paired 't' value and the results were found to be significant at P<0.001 level.