AN INTERVENTIONAL PROGRAM FOR NURSING STAFF ON SELECTED MASS GATHERING INFECTIOUS DISEASES AT HAJJ

This work improved military nursing staff knowledge on selected mass gathering infectious diseases at Hajj. The results showed that only (20%) of the participating nurses attended training program about health hazard during pilgrim. But only (40.0%) of them found the training programs were specific to nurses. Majority found the program useful (70.0%), and the average duration of this training program in weeks was 3.5+1.1. There was significant improvement P=<0.001, of correct knowledge about meningitis regarding causes, organisms, mode of spread, people at risk, transmission,
prevention and treatment, the highest improvement was in causes of meningitis the lowest was in adult vaccination. 25% of participants had adequate knowledge (>60% from total score) in pre-test 93% in post-test 72% after 3 month with significant difference among tests regarding adequate knowledge. There was significant improvement of correct knowledge P=<0.001 about seasonal influenza and respiratory diseases during pilgrim, the highest improvement was in influenza vaccine strains the lowest was in antiviral drugs. 23% of nurses had adequate knowledge (>60% from total score) in pre-test 94% in post-test 66% after 3 month with significant difference among tests regarding adequate knowledge. There was significant improvement P=<0.001 of correct knowledge about gastrointestinal diseases and food poisoning during pilgrim among nurses at military hospital, the highest improvement was in risk factors of food poisoning the lowest was in what GE patient should do. 22% of participants had adequate knowledge (>60% from total score) in pretest 91% in post-test 58% after 3 month with significant difference among tests regarding adequate knowledge. There was significant improvement P=<0.001 of correct knowledge about heat exhaustion during pilgrim among nurses at military hospital, the highest improvement was in non-communicable diseases the lowest was in sun stroke prevention. 27% of participant had
adequate knowledge (>60% from total score) in the pre-test 94% in the post-test 74% after 3 month with significant difference among pre, post and FU regarding adequate knowledge. Also, there were significant improvement P=<0.001 of correct knowledge about hypertension, dengue fever, skin scalding & others diseases during pilgrim among nurses at military hospital, the highest improvement was in skin scalding prevention the lowest was in first aid bag. 28% of participant had adequate knowledge (>60% from total score) in the pre-test 92% in the post-test 61% after 3 month with significant difference among pre, post and FU regarding adequate knowledge. There was a significant difference between total knowledge score according to education, and work experience (P>0.05) in the pre, post and after 3 month in age and in all intervention time in department the highest was ICU then ward then operation room.