A study to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on knowledge regarding prevention of constipation in orthopedic clients at selected hospital of Bagalkot city

Abstract

Background: During my posting in the orthopedic ward, I have been observing orthopedic patients facing the problem of constipation. It is undoubtedly the cause of much chronic discomfort and misery nurses are in the key position to make awareness to the orthopedic clients about the causes of constipation, how to prevent it and how to manage it during their admission to the hospital. Materials and Methods: Pre-experimental research design with one group for pretest and posttest design was used. The independent variable was structured teaching program (STP) on prevention of constipation in orthopedic clients; dependent variables were performance knowledge regarding prevention of constipation. The samples of this study were comprised of 35 clients in selected hospitals at Bagalkot. Convenient sampling technique was used to draw the sample for the study. Results: The overall pretest knowledge was found to be 30.04% with SD value 15.3% among the respondents. The highest mean knowledge found in the aspects of definition, meaning and causes of constipation was 30.95% followed by management and prevention as 30.65% and lowest pretest mean knowledge score found in diagnosis, signs and symptoms, and complication was noticed as 27.35 %. Whereas in posttest mean knowledge score was found to be 82.94% and SD value 9.0% among the respondents. The mean knowledge score found in the aspects of diagnosis, signs and symptoms and complication was noticed as 88.57%, followed by management and prevention as 81.82%, further the mean knowledge score among the respondents on aspects was noticed as 80.48% on definition, meaning and causes of constipation.