Background: Antibiotic stewardship is the optimum selection of antimicrobial therapy that results
in the best clinical outcome for the management/ prevention of infection, with slight toxicity and
minimal influence on subsequent resistance. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of an
educational program on nurses' performance regarding antibiotic stewardship among high-risk
neonates. Design: A quasi-experimental (pre & post-test) design used. Settings: This study was
performed at Neonatal Intensive Care Units and Neonatal Surgical Intensive Care Unit of Benha
Specialized Pediatric Hospital in Benha city. Sample: A purposive sample of 80 nurses and a
purposive sample of 74 high-risk neonates at the previously mentioned settings. Tools of data
collection: Four data collection tools were utilized, a structured interviewing questionnaire, nurses’
practices observational checklists, nurses’ attitudes sheet, and High-risk Neonates' Medical Record.
Results: The current study demonstrated that most studied nurses (88.8%, 83.8% respectively) had a
satisfactory level of knowledge and proficient level of practices after applying the educational
program as compared to (8.8%, 17.5% respectively) before implementation. Conclusion: Based on
the findings of the current study, studied- nurses had a satisfactory level of understanding, attitudes,
and proficient level of practices after implementation of the educational program as compared to
pre-program implementation with a statistically important improvement. Recommendations: The
study suggest the application of traditional and online in-service training in NICUs for nurses with
consistent revising of their knowledge and practices concerning antibiotic stewardship program for
high-risk neonates in all NICUs. |
