Published online May 20, 2022. doi: 10.5662/wjm.v12.i3.113
Peer-review started: December 17, 2021
First decision: March 24, 2022
Revised: March 27, 2022
Accepted: May 7, 2022
Article in press: May 7, 2022
Published online: May 20, 2022
Processing time: 152 Days and 10 Hours
Nursing officers are an integral component of any medical team. They participate in taking care of basic airway management and assist in advanced airway management, specifically amidst the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
To assess the efficacy of a standardized web-based training module for nurses in preparedness to fight against COVID-19.
The training was held in three sessions of 1 h each, consisting of live audio-visual lectures, case scenarios, and skill demonstrations. The sequence of airway equipment, drug preparation, airway examination, and plans of airway management was demonstrated through mannequin-based video-clips.
Pre- and post-test scores as well as objective structured clinical examination scores were analyzed using Student’s t-test and the Likert scale was used for feedback assessment. It was found that the mean score out of the total score of 20 was 8.47 ± 4.2 in the pre-test, while in the post-test it was 17.4 ± 1.8 (P value < 0.001). The participants also felt self-reliant in executing the roles of airway assistant (63.3%) and drug assistant (74.3%). Fear of self-infection with COVID-19 was also high, as 66% of participants feared working with the patient’s airway.
Amidst this COVID-19 emergency, when the health care systems are being persistently challenged, training of nursing staff in the safe conduct of airway management can ensure delivery of life-saving treatment.
Core Tip: The health care response systems are being persistently challenged by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Nurses are actively involved in various tasks of airway management like preparation of airway equipment, drugs, and basic airway management. This study demonstrated a gross lack of knowledge regarding airway management despite receiving basic life support training. The participants felt more self-reliant and confident in executing the roles of airway assistant and drug assistant after the session. There is a need to train nursing staff from different subsets of practice in the safe conduct of airway management and simulation based online training program for health professionals can be employed for preparedness against COVID-19.