Effectiveness of Educational Session on Acute Poisoning Management of Nurses Working in Tertiary Care Hospitals: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Background: Acute poisoning is a major global health concern, particularly in developing countries, where emergency department nurses often serve as first responders. However, limited data exist regarding their preparedness, especially in the Pakistani context, revealing a significant gap in knowledge and clinical practice related to poisoning management. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured educational session on the knowledge and clinical practices of nurses working in public tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar, focusing on their ability to manage acute poisoning cases. Methods: A quasi-experimental pre- and post-intervention design was employed among registered nurses (n = 58) from the emergency departments of three public-sector hospitals. Participants were selected through simple random sampling based on eligibility criteria, excluding those unwilling or absent. Data were collected using a validated self-administered questionnaire assessing knowledge (15 items) and clinical practice (35 items). Following a 1-hour intervention comprising a presentation and practical demonstration, post-test data were collected after one week. Ethical approval was obtained from the Khyber Medical University Ethical Review Board, and all procedures adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS v22, with paired t-tests, ANOVA, and correlation applied where appropriate. Results: Mean knowledge scores improved significantly from 7.08 ± 0.78 to 14.47 ± 0.75 (t = 50.83, p < 0.001), and practice scores rose from 12.81 ± 3.19 to 33.63 ± 1.56 (t = -42.60, p < 0.001). No demographic variable showed a significant association with pre-intervention scores, indicating a uniform benefit of the intervention across all groups. Conclusion: The educational session effectively enhanced nurses' knowledge and clinical practices in managing acute poisoning, underscoring the need for routine competency-based training to improve emergency response and patient outcomes in resource-limited healthcare settings.