Effect of Nurse-Led Educational Intervention on Knowledge and Preventive Practices for Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Among Pediatric Nurses

Abstract

Background: Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide, yet significant gaps persist in pediatric nurses’ knowledge and preventive practices, particularly in resource-limited settings, contributing to suboptimal infection control and clinical outcomes. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-led educational intervention in improving knowledge and self-reported preventive practices related to URTI prevention among pediatric nurses, with the expectation of significant post-intervention gains. Methods: In this quasi-experimental pre-post study, 35 registered pediatric nurses at Ali Fatima Hospital, Lahore, were purposively sampled based on eligibility criteria including active pediatric ward employment and a minimum of six months of clinical experience; nurses on leave during data collection were excluded. Data were collected using a validated, structured questionnaire administered before and two weeks after a single interactive educational session. Primary outcomes included knowledge and practice scores, analyzed using paired t-tests in SPSS version 25, with significance set at p < 0.05; ethical approval was obtained from the Green International University IRB, adhering to the Helsinki Declaration. Results: Mean knowledge scores increased from 16.94 ± 4.52 pre-intervention to 35.29 ± 3.63 post-intervention (mean difference: 18.34, 95% CI: 15.80–20.89, p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 2.52). Practice scores also improved significantly (18.61 ± 3.11 vs. 34.01 ± 2.92; mean difference: 15.40, 95% CI: 13.17–17.63, p < 0.001). Substantial corrections in misconceptions and increased endorsement of evidence-based practices were observed. Conclusion: Nurse-led education markedly enhances pediatric nurses’ knowledge and preventive behaviors regarding URTI, supporting structured educational interventions as a clinically valuable strategy to advance infection control and patient outcomes in pediatric care.