A Study to Evaluate Knowledge and Attitude Related To Ethical and Legal Aspect Among Staff Nurses Working at Tertiary Hospital, Amritsar

Amanjot Kaur; Parvesh Saini; Karuna Sharma

Abstract

Pregnant women are more prone to assault and exploitation as a vulnerable category. Adverse occurrences are more likely when invasive and non-invasive therapeutic and diagnostic tests, as well as modern technology, are used. Nurses' lack of understanding has been linked to ethical and legal concerns in the health care industry in several studies. A descriptive design was used in the study. A total of 100 staff nurses were selected through the convenience sampling technique. Self-structured knowledge questionnaire and a 5point Likert scale was used to collect the data the median knowledge score of staff nurses regarding ethical and legal aspects related to obstetric nursing. Overall median knowledge score of staff nurses regarding obstetric nursing was 6.50, whereas median of the knowledge score of the ethical and legal aspects was 3.50 and 3.0 respectively and the standard deviation was 5.052. The overall mean knowledge score of 100 staff nurses regarding ethical and legal aspects was 8.58 and that of ethical and legal aspects was 4.13 and 4.45 respectively. The mean attitude score of staff nurses regarding ethical and legal aspects related to obstetric nursing. The overall mean attitude score of 100 staff nurses regarding ethical and legal aspects related to obstetric nursing is 44.49 and the standard deviation is 4.972. median is 45.50. The mean of knowledge and attitude score is 8.58 and 44.49 respectively. The r-value is 0.215 and shows a weak positive correlation between knowledge and attitude regarding ethical and legal aspects related to obstetric nursing among staff nurses. Overall 50% of staff nurses had poor knowledge scores. However, an equal proportion of staff nurses i.e. (23%) had average and good knowledge. Only 4% of staff nurses had excellent knowledge regarding ethical and legal aspects. Taking the score range into consideration, the overall score range is 2–20. However, the score range for ethical and legal aspects was 0–10 and 0–11 respectively. A maximum of 87% of staff nurses had a favorable attitude regarding ethical and legal aspects followed by 13% of staff nurses who had an unfavorable attitude.

Abstract

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