Abstract:
Objective: To assess knowledge, attitudes and practice of nurses toward oxygen administration
to the critically ill patients at University Teaching Hospital of Kigali
Methods: The study was carried out at University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (UTHK known as
CHUK) in ICU and Emergency units. UTHK is Rwandan Referral Hospital located in Kigali
City, Nyarugenge District. The target population was professional nurses working at the
Emergency and ICU units at UTHK. The researcher used questionnaire which is adapted from
previous similar study. The questionnaire was developed from research conducted at Addisababa
by LEMMA (2015).A questionnaire was distributed to consenting nurses for completion.
Dependent variables were knowledge attitude and practice. Independent variables were Sex, age,
level of education, marital status and working experience. The data was analyzed using SPSS 20.
Level of knowledge was grouped according to Bloom‘s original cut-off points into good (80
100%), moderate (60-79%) and poor (< 60%). A quantitative descriptive method was chosen
because it was enabled the researcher to collect numerical data and perform quantitative analysis.
Aims: This study aims to identify the knowledge, attitude, practical skills and related gap among
nurses on oxygen therapy at Emergency and ICU units at UTHK.
Results: Out of the 65 Nurses who responded, 73.8 % had a level of knowledge classifiable as
poor, 21.1% moderate and 3.1% good. The mean score of level of knowledge, participants in this
study was 87.7%. Standard deviation was19.3 and there is significant relation between the
education level and nursing practices during administration of oxygen (p value= 0.033). The
participants showed lower levels of knowledge in different subject matters. Only 26.2 % give the
right answer about oxygen indications, 50.8 % gave the correct answer about normal range of
oxygen saturation and 27.7 % responded correctly questions related to the physiology of
respiratory system. .The attitudes of participants in the various subject areas raised were
moderate on 63.1%, and practice also was moderate on 46.2%.
Conclusion: The participants had poor level of knowledge of oxygen administration. However
their attitude and practice was generally moderate. Their knowledge could be boosted with
regular continuous nursing education on oxygen administration.
