Evaluate the Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme on Knowledge Regarding Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis among Third-Year B.Sc. Nursing Students

Abstract

Introduction and objectives: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is the most common cause of thyroid diseases in children, adolescents and adults, and it is also the most common cause of acquired hypothyroidism with or without goitre. HT is characterized clinically as a commonly occurring, painless, diffuse enlargement of the thyroid gland occurring predominantly in middle-aged women. There is an infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells between the follicles followed by their atrophy. The clinical course is variable and spontaneous remission may occur in adolescence. Goitre, menstrual disorders, short statue, constipation and nervousness have been reported as the most recurrent clinical features of HT. So, HT is predominantly the clinical expression of cell-mediated immunity leading to destruction of thyroid cells, which in its severest form produces thyroid failure and idiopathic myxoedema. The objective is to determine the association between post-test knowledge scores on HT among third-year B.Sc. Nursing students with selected demographic variables.Methodology: In the present study, evaluative research approach was selected; one-group pre-test and post-test design was adopted. Sample size was 60 and the sample was third-year B.Sc. Nursing students in Bangalore. Samples were selected by determined sampling techniques. Structured knowledge questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants. Results: The pre-test mean knowledge score was 38.7% and the post-test mean knowledge score was 81.0%. The paired t-test value between pre-test and post-test was 23.699*, which is statistically significant at 0.05 level degree of freedom. Conclusion: The study reveals an inadequate knowledge and moderate level of practice. Hence there was a need to develop structured teaching programme on knowledge regarding HT.