| 1 | Author(s):
S D D Priyangika. Page No : 1-7 |
Study of factors influencing the pursue of higher education among registered nurses
Abstract
The nurse is essential in delivering good patient care in the hospital, and her standard of education and experience is
very important. While attending to the patient’s needs, the nurse is also responsible for improving her continued
professional development. The factors that influence nurses not to pursue higher education in Sri Lanka still remain
unclear and unattended which requires a proper study of those influencing factors in order to find solutions and
mitigate the existing shortcomings. As educated nurses can provide better quality patient care, which will improve the
nursing profession as well as the health sector itself, the focus of significance of this research is to identify the factors
that affect the nurses not pursuing or continuing higher education. Identifying such barriers will be beneficial for
health policymakers and stakeholders to take necessary actions to motivate nurses to continue higher education in Sri
Lanka. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. Data will be collected by principal investigators with a self-administered
questionnaire during non-working hours and when nursing care will not be compromised. The questionnaire will be
developed in English, Sinhala, and Tamil. It consists of four main parts. The sample was 327 nurses, with a 100%
response rate. There were 310 female respondents (94.8%) and 17 male respondents (5.2%). The majority of participants
(68.8%) were between the ages of 31 and 4 0. Overburdening of tasks in the unit was identified as a barrier responsible
for 93.9% of the 07 items assessed for personal factors influencing nurses’ future education. The single most significant
obstacle among the four social components assessed was a lack of employer support. Only the assistance offered to
increase the educational level of the unit was a motivating factor (63.3%) when administrative variables were included.
Higher education institutions were considered. Everything was inspiring. When nurses join higher education, they
identify the load of responsibilities they fulfil, a lack of peer support, and the effect of administration as impediments.
According to the study, the necessity of higher education for nurses, the psychological benefit and the higher
financial gains, and awareness of higher education prospects are all motivating elements.
| 2 | Author(s):
W H M D D Somarathna, H M R K G Nandasena, R M D Madegedara. Page No : 1-9 |
Clinical characteristics and outcome of adult patients hospitalised with COVID-19 at Respiratory Unit in National Hospital Kandy, Sri Lanka
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic created a terrible chaotic situation worldwide. As it is a specific infectious condition, the
nurses and doctors should possess a high degree of knowledge and skills to overcome this problem. This study was
carried out to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at
National Hospital Kandy. Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Kandy National Hospital, Sri Lanka
from March 2022 to August 2022. Patients presented with COVID-19 to the National Hospital Kandy for treatment
were evaluated according to the study objectives. Patients who need hospital admission for treatments with CT
value less than 30 at the admission were included for the study. The convenient sampling technique was applied to
select 425 patients. The investigator administered structured data collection/extraction sheet was applied as study
instrument for data collection. Data analysis was facilitated by SPSS version 25.0. The age of the study participants
were ranged from 16 years to 87 years (Mean=57.37 years: SD=15.43 years). Majority of them were above 51 years
(N=288: 67.7%). There was a male predominance (N=285: 67.1%). Diabetes was the medical complication seen
among majority of the study participants (N=182: 42.8%). Mean pulse rate at the admission was 93/minute (SD=18.26).
Mean blood pressures was 131.25mm/Hg(SD=23.1) systolic and 82.1mm/Hg (SD=13.2) diastole. Majority of them
presented with respiratory rate less than 29/minute (N=237: 55.8%). Fever (N=196:46.1%), Dry cough (N=193: 45.4%)
and the Shortness’s of breath (N= 198: 46.6%) were the most prevalent clinical symptoms of patients at the time of
admission. Majority of patients have received antibiotics (N=282: 66.4%) as a treatment. Mean duration of the
Hospital stay was 7.9 days (SD=5.5). Majority of patients recovered and discharged from the Hospital (N=257: 60.4%).
Death rate of the patients was 14.2% (N=60).
The study highlights that older age, and comorbidities increase the risk of hospitalization and adverse outcomes.
Improved symptomatic treatment and targeted prevention strategies for high-risk populations are recommended
| 3 | Author(s):
W H M D D Somarathna, H M R K G Nandasena, R M D Madegedara. Page No : 1-9 |
Clinical characteristics and outcome of adult patients hospitalised with COVID-19 at Respiratory Unit in National Hospital Kandy, Sri Lanka
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic created a terrible chaotic situation worldwide. As it is a specific infectious condition, the
nurses and doctors should possess a high degree of knowledge and skills to overcome this problem. This study was
carried out to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at
National Hospital Kandy. Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Kandy National Hospital, Sri Lanka
from March 2022 to August 2022. Patients presented with COVID-19 to the National Hospital Kandy for treatment
were evaluated according to the study objectives. Patients who need hospital admission for treatments with CT
value less than 30 at the admission were included for the study. The convenient sampling technique was applied to
select 425 patients. The investigator administered structured data collection/extraction sheet was applied as study
instrument for data collection. Data analysis was facilitated by SPSS version 25.0. The age of the study participants
were ranged from 16 years to 87 years (Mean=57.37 years: SD=15.43 years). Majority of them were above 51 years
(N=288: 67.7%). There was a male predominance (N=285: 67.1%). Diabetes was the medical complication seen
among majority of the study participants (N=182: 42.8%). Mean pulse rate at the admission was 93/minute (SD=18.26).
Mean blood pressures was 131.25mm/Hg(SD=23.1) systolic and 82.1mm/Hg (SD=13.2) diastole. Majority of them
presented with respiratory rate less than 29/minute (N=237: 55.8%). Fever (N=196:46.1%), Dry cough (N=193: 45.4%)
and the Shortness’s of breath (N= 198: 46.6%) were the most prevalent clinical symptoms of patients at the time of
admission. Majority of patients have received antibiotics (N=282: 66.4%) as a treatment. Mean duration of the
Hospital stay was 7.9 days (SD=5.5). Majority of patients recovered and discharged from the Hospital (N=257: 60.4%).
Death rate of the patients was 14.2% (N=60).
The study highlights that older age, and comorbidities increase the risk of hospitalization and adverse outcomes.
Improved symptomatic treatment and targeted prevention strategies for high-risk populations are recommended.
| 4 | Author(s):
M G D N Bandara, R M D Madegedara. Page No : 1-10 |
Depression, anxiety, stress, and related factors among elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in National Hospital Kandy, Sri Lanka
Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a major cause of chronic morbidity and mortality in the elderly population
worldwide. Around 40% of people with COPD suffer from depression and anxiety which remains mostly not diagnosed
and untreated. Hence, this study aimed to examine anxiety, depression, stress and its associated factors among elderly
patients with COPD in the respiratory treatment unit of Kandy National Hospital, Sri Lanka. These relationships were
evaluated with a demographic questionnaire and the “Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21” (DASS-21). Multiple
regression analysis was used to examine the relationships between these variables. The sample consisted of 180
elderly patients with a mean age of 68.69±6.25(Mean±SD). Out of them, 177 (98.4%) were males. The results indicated
that the risk factors account for 51.2% of the variance in depression, 64.2% of the variance in anxiety and 11.7% of
variance in stress. Of those without a pre-existing diagnosis of anxiety, depression or stress, 26.4% met the criteria for
at least moderate depression, 23.9% met the criteria for at least moderate anxiety and 24.2% met the criteria for at least
moderate stress. Monthly household income had a negative correlation while number of presenting comorbidities
apart from COPD and number of COPD exacerbations in the last year were positively correlated with the construct of
depression, anxiety and stress. These findings suggest that screening programmes for other comorbidities and
commencing early treatment, encourage patients to participate in follow-up visits and to establish supportive economic
strategies for the patients during the economic crisis.
| 5 | Author(s):
P G H N Kumari. Page No : 1-12 |
Knowledge and attitude of essential newborn care among postnatal mothers in National Hospital Kandy, Sri Lanka
Abstract
Neonatal mortality remains a critical global health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The
first four weeks of life are crucial for an infant’s survival, and essential newborn care practices play a significant role in
reducing mortality rates.
This study assesses the knowledge and attitudes of postnatal mothers regarding essential newborn care at the
National Hospital Kandy, Sri Lanka. The study also aims to highlight key gaps in maternal knowledge regarding
newborn care, particularly in areas such as breastfeeding, immunization, and cord care. A structured cross-sectional
descriptive study was conducted, where 384 postnatal mothers were interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire.
The findings reveal that while knowledge of breastfeeding practices was high, significant gaps existed in areas such
as immunization and thermal regulation.
The study highlights the necessity of improved health education programs and enhanced healthcare provider training
to ensure optimal newborn care practices. The research also explores socio-demographic factors that influence
knowledge and attitudes towards newborn care and provides evidence-based recommendations for policy development
and healthcare.
| 6 | Author(s):
P G H N Kumari. Page No : 1-17 |
Factors affecting intensive care units’ nurses’ job satisfaction based on Herzberg two factors theory at the National Hospital Kandy, Sri Lanka
Abstract
Nurses all over the world are working in a very stressful and draining working environment. Being a developing
country with strained resources, Sri Lankan nurses’ working environment too faces difficulties. This study was done
to identify factors influencing ICU nurses’ job satisfaction at the National Hospital, in Kandy, Sri Lanka by using
Hertzberg’s two-factor theory. A quantitative descriptive survey method with purposive sampling was conducted
from April to November 2022. Motivational factors significantly predicted job satisfaction (=0.261, p=0.001), and
hygienic factors did not significantly predict job satisfaction (=-0.081, p=0.186) in the ICU nurses working at the
National Hospital Kandy. Furthermore, the results suggested that 7.9% of the variance in job satisfaction. The respondents
were not satisfied with their salary and welfare facilities (51.8%), and higher management appreciation (43.1%). This
study also agrees with Hertzberg’s two-factor theory that motivational and hygiene factors influence nurses’ level of
job satisfaction. The sample of 174 nurses, was limited and within the COVID-19 situation and the sudden economic
crisis, the social impact of the nursing profession and foreign demand for nursing vacancies increased, therefore selfmotivation
and nurses’ attitudes changed, and healthcare facilities declined than before in Sri Lanka. Further studies
with a large number of participants in many hospitals as possible is recommended.
