Effectiveness of a computer-based learning module on arterial blood gas interpretation among staff nurses in critical care units

Abstract

Continuous education and updating knowledge and skills for nurses is very important, because they working in different shifts, do not have the opportunity to participate in face-to-face teaching sessions; self-educating methods are is very useful for them. Online, computer-based learning has emerged as an alternative means of providing continuing education to nurses. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of online-learning module on nurses’ knowledge and practice regarding Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) interpretation in critical care units.  Design: A quasi-experimental design was utilized in the conduction of this study. Setting: the study was carried out in the respiratory ICU and coronary care unit affiliated to Ain Shams University Hospitals. Sample: a purposive sample of (60) staff nurses. Tools: data were collected through three tools; 1. Nurses' self- administered questionnaire; it included two parts: A. characteristics of the studied Nurses, B. Nurses' knowledge assessment tool to assess the level of nurses’ knowledge regarding ABG interpretation. 2. Nurses’ practice checklist to assess nurses’ level of practice regarding ABG interpretation; both tools used pre and post implementation of the online-learning module 3. Nurses’ satisfaction questionnaire to assess the level of nurses’ satisfaction regarding Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) interpretation post implementing online learning module. Results showed that there were a highly statistically significant difference of nurses’ level of knowledge and nurses’ level of practice before and after implementation of online-learning module (X² = 53.333; 58.800) respectively at p. <0.001. The results also revealed that there was a positive correlation association between nurses’ total satisfactory level of knowledge and total satisfactory level of practice pre and post implementation of online-learning module (r = 0.566, 0.809) respectively. Conclusions: The level of nurses’ knowledge and level of nurses’ practice regarding Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) interpretation increased significantly after implementing the online-learning module. Recommendations: The study can be replicated on a large sample to generalize findings. Incorporating online-learning module related to ABG interpretation into the continuing professional development courses for critical care nurses is recommended.

Keywords; Online-learning, arterial blood gas interpretation