Validation of Bedside Nursing Assessment Tool for Early Detection of Lower Respiratory Tract Infection

Abstract

Globally more than 1.5 million deaths annually from respiratory infections are attributable to the environment, including at least 42% of lower respiratory infections and 24% of upper respiratory infections in developing countries. Dipstick testing is a common nursing procedure performed in different clinical settings to detect some biochemical changes in urine sample. Aim: was to test the validity of bedside nursing assessment tool for early detection of lower respiratory tract infection. Research design: A quasi-experimental design was utilized to conduct this study. Tools: purposive sample of one hundred patients with different type of chest infections were recruited in the current study. The patients’ sputum were examined for the presence of leucocytes by dipstick versus gram stain examination. Results: the study has indicated that dipstick test sensitivity 92%, specificity 89%, diagnostic accuracy 91%, positive predictive value 96% and negative predictive value 81% compared to gram stain. Conclusion: The rapid strip has been shown to be a sensitive test for rapid detection of lower respiratory tract infection and can be used in routine assessment of patients with suspected lower respiratory tract infection, albeit, non-alternative to other conventional methods. Recommendations: The study recommends strengthening dipstick test utilization in community and hospital acquired lung infection as a part of the bedside nursing assessment to detect lower respiratory tract infection and to monitor the response to therapy.