The effect of an intervention program in nurses' knowledge and performance regarding management of House Dust Mites in a Military Hospital

Abstract EN

House dust mites (HDM) are microscopic arthropods live indoor and/or outdoor inhibited by vertebrates including man.

This study improved nurses' knowledge and performance regarding the management of HDM to minimize nosocomial patient's exposure in a Military Hospital.

All staff nurses with working experience of at least one year were included (n=60 nurses).

Three tools were used for data collection: 1- a self-administered questionnaire sheet to assess subjects sociodemographicdata and knowledge regarding management of HDM, 2- an observation check list to evaluate performance as regard environmental care related to HDMs' control, and 3- practical dust collection from indicative areas whenever possible to isolate mites from dust patients’ dwelling for identification following standard local and international keys.

The results showed that the implementation of educational intervention program led to significant improvement of nurses' knoweledge and performance related to management of HDM post program implementation.

This fact was practically approved as some nurse’s requested to examine even their own homes.

Also, seven species of mites were isolated.