Evaluation of the Level of Knowledge About Autonomic Dysreflexia in an Intensive Care Unit
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25759/spmfr.229Keywords:
Autonomic Dysreflexia, Critical Care, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Spinal Cord Injuries, Surveys and QuestionnairesAbstract
Introduction: This study aims to determine the level of knowledge of autonomic dysreflexia, its causes and symptoms, treatment and complications, in health care professionals in the hospital setting, namely doctors and nurses of the Intensive Care Unit.
Material and Methods: The study design involved the creation of a questionnaire, adapted from two other questionnaires previously published. It was distributed and available both in paper and digital formats and was applied to the doctors and nurses of the Intensive Care Unit.
Results: A total of 52 health care professionals completed the questionnaire (7 doctors and 45 nurses). About 43% (n = 3) of doctors and 60% (n = 27) of nurses had never heard the term autonomic dysreflexia. Only 3 nurses and 1 doctor had pre-graduate education on autonomic dysreflexia. All nurses with Rehabilitation specialty (n = 4) have heard the term autonomic dysreflexia and had higher scores than the other nurses. All the inquired would like to have more information about autonomic dysreflexia.
Conclusion: Autonomic dysreflexia is considered a medical emergency and should be immediately recognized and treated, in order to prevent serious complications. It is still under-recognized by health care professionals outside of the rehabilitation field and there is generally little, if any, undergraduate or postgraduate training on spinal cord injury. Even though autonomic dysreflexia usually occurs in the chronic phase of the lesion, it can be present in the first days or weeks, and it is believed that it is still under-recognized in this phase. All health care professionals who deal with spinal cord injury patients should be alert to this condition, since it is a potential medical emergency, beyond rehabilitation care.
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