الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Background: Clozapine is an antipsychotic with superior efficacy for treatment resistant schizophrenia, and has unique anti-suicidal properties and a low propensity to cause extrapyramidal side-effects. Despite these advantages, clozapine causes a number of potentially lethal side effects. Along to psychiatrists; psychiatric nurses play a crucial role in the long-term management of psychiatric patient‘s undertaken clozapine. It is therefore important that nurses know, inform and monitor patients about the specific sideeffects of clozapine. Aim: This study aimed to assess psychiatric nurses‘ knowledge and practice toward side effects of clozapine drug on co-morbid psychiatric patients. Design: Descriptive design was used for this study. Sample: convenience sample includes one hundred psychiatric nurses working in Port-said psychiatric and mental health hospital. Tools of data collection: The data was gathered through a self-administered questionnaire where the tool was divided into two parts: first part includes personal characteristics and professional background data second part includes two tools: Psychiatric nurse‘s knowledge regarding clozapine and its side effects and Psychiatric nurse‘s practice regarding clozapine and its side effects. Results: Psychiatric nurses obtained unsatisfactory knowledge regarding clozapine drug administration and management of side effects. However, psychiatric nurses obtained satisfactory practice level regarding clozapine drug administration and management of side effects. In addition, there was a positive significant correlation between psychiatric nurse‘s knowledge and practice regarding clozapine. Conclusion: There is a wide gap between psychiatric nurse’s knowledge and their practice regarding clozapine administration and management of side effects on co-morbid psychiatric patients. Recommendations: Advocate additional education and practice demonstration on clozapine medication administration and management of side effects at undergraduate education and through educational packages at the service level. |