The knowledge and practices of immobilized patients in the prevention of immobilization complications in the orthopaedic wards (C21, G02, G12) at the University Teaching Hospital.

Abstract

Introduction: Immobilization is defined by the medical dictionary as the procedure of making a normally moveable part of the body immovable and this physical inactivity may occur, for example, through disease, injury or following major surgery, Immobilization is a most common treatment provided to injured patients admitted to the orthopedic ward. Immobilized patients have the highest risk of complications and death associated with it. Objective: To determine the knowledge and practice of immobilised patients in the prevention of immobilization complications in the Orthopaedic ward at University Teaching Hospital. Method: The study was carried out in the Orthopaedic Wards G02, G12 and C22 at University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka. The study was carried out using a quantitative method where data was collected using a structured researcher administered questionnaire to look at the knowledge of immobilization complications in trauma patients. Data was analysed and interpreted using descriptive statistics using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. Results: In this study, 75(83.3%) participants answered the questionnaire. Out of the 75 participants who returned the questionnaire, male participants were more 60.0% ( n=48) than females 36.0% ( n=27). As for the age range, 57.3% (n=43) were between the age of 18 to 40years, the least were aged above 65 years 8.0% (n=6). The majority of the participants 33.3% (n=25) where married while 10.7% (n=8) were divorced. About 34.7% (n=26) of participants reached secondary level of education as opposed to 18.7% (n=14) who only reached primary school level. Those who did not attain any form of education were 22.7% (n=17) while 24% (n=18) had reached tertiary education. When participqnts were asked asked if they knew the complications of being in a non-movement state, the majority 42.7% (n=32) were not sure while 38.7% indicated that they knew and 18.7% (n=14) did not know. Conclution: More effort needs to be put into education of patients on the complications of prolonged immobilization. This might require the development of a consent form that would require to be filled for anyone who is immobilised for a certain duration.