Knowledge Of Immobilization Complications In Trauma Patients
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Date
2019Author
Karanu, Joseph K .
Type
ThesisLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Patient management involves addressing the ailment that the patient presents with, but in
addition, it necessitates involving the patient in the management of their ailment. The issue in
this research was whether immobilised patients in orthopaedics were informed about the
complications of their management and whether they actually consented to that line of
management or were forced by circumstances.
Study Objectives
Broad objective
To establish the knowledge level of immobilized orthopaedic patients on the complications of
their immobilization.
Specific objective
1. To determine the knowledge level of patients on the complications of immobilization in
the orthopaedic department.
2. To correlate the education level of patients and their knowledge on the complications of
immobilization.
3. To determine, from the patient, whether immobilization was as a result of choice or
circumstances.
4. To assess what actions have been taken, by the knowledgeable patients, to avoid the
complications of immobilization.
Methodology
This study involved administering a questionnaire to all immobilised and eligible patients in the
orthopaedic wards. The questionnaire was intended to establish the issues raised by the
objectives of the study. Descriptive statistics were used for continuous variables such as age of
the patient. Counts and respective proportions were used for tabulation of categorical valuables
such as gender, education level, type of immobilization, reason for immobilization and whether
immobilization was by choice or not. Bivariate associations to correlate the education level of
patients and their knowledge on the complications of immobilization were assessed by Pearson
chi-squares or fishers exact test as was deemed appropriate, p values were reported. All statistical
tests were evaluated at 5% level of significance. Bivariate associations were used to correlate
knowledge level and the avoidance of complications.
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Results.
Immobilised patients in this study were mainly males between the ages of 18 to 44years. Most
patients had at least primary school education. The knowledge level on complications of
prolonged immobilization was low among these patients and was not influenced by the patient’s
education level. The actual knowledge levels ranged from an average of 12.8 for musculoskeletal
complications, to 3.6 % for cardiovascular complications and 4.4% for other complications.
Most patients were immobilised out of circumstance and not out of choice. Knowledge on
complications of prolonged immobilization could not be demonstrated to prevent the occurrence
of the said complications.
Recommendations
More effort needs to be put into education of patients on the complications of prolonged
immobilization. This might require the development of a consent form that would require to be
filled for anyone who is immobilised for a certain duration.
Publisher
UoN
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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