Knowledge of nurses in the early detection and management of acute kidney injury in a selected Hospital in Rwanda

Abstract

Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a worldwide and a serious condition. It increases the length of hospital stay, mortality rate and cost for both patient and health care system. Health care professionals with adequate knowledge support the system by controlling and prevention of risk factors. By the use of simple measures such as monitoring input and output, treat and prevent the infection, withhold nephrotoxic drugs, control diabetes and hypertension among others lowered the incidence of AKI. Globally, AKI affects 13 millions of people per year; a larger number of them (85%) are located in low and middle income countries where Rwanda is included as well. Most literatures highlighted inadequate educational and training sessions on AKI compared to other priority health conditions. Aim: To assess the level of knowledge of nurses on the early detection and management of AKI in a Referral Hospital in Rwanda. Method: Quantitative approach and descriptive cross sectional design were used. The study was conducted in Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Kigali (CHUK) in the internal medicine, surgical, emergency and trauma, paediatric, and intensive care units. Data was collected from 165 nurses using self administered questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to generate the meaning from collected data. Chi-square was used to determine the relationship between study variables and the early detection and management of AKI. Results and conclusion: The findings revealed that only 5.4% have high knowledge in the early identification of AKI while 8.5% have high knowledge on the management of AKI. Receiving hospital in service training was associated with increased knowledge on the early detection and management of AKI. There is a need to organize regular sessions on AKI to improve the knowledge of AKI among nurses.