ENHANCEMENT OF PERIOPERATIVE CARE PROVIDED BY NURSES FOR CHILDREN WITH OSTEOSARCOMA AND THEIR FAMILIES

Abstract

Osteogenic sarcoma (osteosarcoma) is a bone forming cancer. It is the most frequent type of bone tumor and is most common between the ages of 15 to 25 years. Over 90% of tumors are located in the metaphysis (the growing ends of the bone), the most common sites are the bones around the knee which account for 80% of cases. Osteosarcomas vary greatly in radiological and pathological features and therefore need careful diagnosis to differentiate this from other bone tumors. Most are high grade intramedullary osteosarcomas, about 5% are low grade lesions, some are secondary osteosarcomas (for example those caused by radiation therapy) (Khoury et al., 2014). Aim of the study: The aim of this study was: Enhancing the periopertive care provided by nurses for children with osteosarcoma and their families. Through: 1. Assessing the nurses' knowledge and practices related to periopertive care provided to the children with osteosarcoma and their families. 2. Developing and disseminating a handout for nurses about perioperative care. 3. Evaluating the effects of the educational program among nurses about care given to the children with osteosrcoma, perioperatively. Subjects and Methods: I. Research Design: A quasi experimental design was utilized in the current study. A. Setting: This study was conducted in 57357 children's cancer hospital in Egypt at the operating room, surgical department and the post anesthesia care unit. Because nurses working in the previously mentioned setting care and look after children having surgical operation. B. Subjects:- A purposive sample was selected from nurses working at 57357 children's cancer hospital in Egypt. Nurses' number in surgical department and the post anesthesia care unit was (48) and operating room nurses were (22) regardless their level of qualifications or experience. 2. Technical Design Tools of data collection: Data were collected through the use of the following tools: a) A pre-designed questionnaire (Appendix II): It was designed by the researcher based on recent literature review. Questions were in the form of 35 multiple choices questions written in simple Arabic language to gather data that covered the following parts:- Part I: The first part was concerned with the characteristics of nurses: age, level of education, years of experience, qualifications, marital status, and previously reported training course. Part II: The second part was concerned with knowledge related to definition, causes, types, signs and symptoms, complications, methods of diagnosis, medical and nursing management of osteosarcoma. Part III: The third part was concerned with knowledge related to the health problems related to osteosarcoma. Part IV: The fourth part was concerned with knowledge related to the surgical care provided for children having osteosarcoma. Each questionnaire sheet was filed individually by the nurses on spot.

Scoring system: Scoring system for the questionnaire was "100" marks. The nurse's answers were categorized into:  Score < 60 referred to poor knowledge.  Score 60 < 75 referred to average knowledge.  Score 75 < 100 referred to good knowledge. 2- Observational Checklists (Appendix III)