Nkechi M Enwerem
Howard University, USA
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Nurs Care
Background: The 2004 Institute of Medicine report (IOM), â??Keeping Patients Safe,â? recognized that the nursing profession is playing a critical role in patient safety. Although new nurses possess a strong theoretical knowledge of nursing, experience from practice is important in providing a safer level of practice. The retention of experienced nurses in practice would require a continuous, careerlong learning. Medical errors resulting in Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs), pose a significant public health problem. Studies on the knowledge, attitudes and awareness of FDI among nurses with different levels of experience are lacking. Aim: To examine the knowledge, attitudes and awareness of food and drug interactions (FDI) among nurses with different levels of experience in their day to day practices. Methods: This was a cross sectional study which included a structured questionnaire. The study included a convenience sample of 278 nurses divided into 5 groups with different levels of experience: 0-4 years (66); 5-9 years (75); 10-14 years (45); 15-19 years (41); and â?¥20 years. Results: There was statistical difference in knowledge and attitude to FDI among the 5 groups. 72.3% of nurses had not observed food and drug interaction during their practice. Conclusion: The five groups all scored low in their knowledge of FDI. Most of the participants recommended in-house training on FDI every six (6) months. There is a significant difference in the knowledge of FDI among the five groups with different levels of nursing experience.
Nkechi M Enwerem is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nursing, Howard University. She has a Master’s degree in Nursing (University of Maryland), PhD in Medicinal Chemistry (University of Ibadan, Nigeria), and Post-doctoral training, developing methods for the analysis of drugs using HPLC in the school of Pharmacy, Howard University. She has over 25 publications in the area of Chemistry, Medicinal Plants and Nursing. She served as a Program Director of United Nations Development Program: medicinal and aromatic plants project in National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Drug Development (NIPRD), Abuja, Nigeria, between 1995 and 2000.
Email: nkechi.enwerem@howard.edu
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