Nursing

Permanent URI for this community

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1

Open Access
Knowledge and Attitudes of Guardians on Prevention of Burn Injuries in Epileptic Patients at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital
(Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, 2010-11-10) Banda, Isabel Stambuli
The purpose of the qualitative, phenomenological study was to explore knowledge and attitudes of guardians towards prevention of burn injuries in epileptic patients. This was due to increased number of admissions and readmissions of epileptic patients with burn injuries at the Burns Unit. The study was conducted at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital-Burns Unit. The sample size of ten selected family members aged 18 years and beyond caring for epileptic patients with burn injuries was recruited for the study. The sample was recruited using purposive sampling. Data was collected through one to one in-depth interviews using an interview guide. Data collected was analyzed manually using themes and categorized human experience. Some of the key findings regarding knowledge and attitudes of guardians towards prevention of burn injuries in epileptic patients are; guardians do not have adequate knowledge on epilepsy hence they do not know the importance of anticonvulsants in reducing the frequency of the epileptic fits. Lack of knowledge on first aid management of burn injuries at home, lack of knowledge on prevention of burn injuries and negative attitudes of the communities towards epileptic patients are key factors hindering prevention of burn injuries in epileptics.