Background: Chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma
and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are among the most common
non-communicable diseases globally and contribute substantially to morbidity,
mortality, and health system costs. In asthma and COPD management, objective
assessment of lung function is essential for diagnosis, monitoring
exacerbations, and guiding therapy. Asthma and COPD are rising causes of
morbidity and mortality in Ghana, yet objective tools for monitoring airflow
limitation remain underused. Peak flow meters (PFMs) offer a simple, low-cost
method for assessing airway obstruction, but their utilisation by nurses has
not been well documented.
Objective: The primary objective of this study is to assess
nurses’ knowledge, practices, and perceived barriers to PFM utilisation in the
management of respiratory disorders at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH),
Ghana.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted
among 335 registered nurses selected through proportionate stratified sampling
from medical, surgical, and emergency units of KATH. Data were collected using
a pretested structured questionnaire. The instrument comprised four sections:
demographic characteristics (age, sex, rank, years of practice, unit of work);
knowledge of PFM use (purpose, calibration units, colour zones, clinical
indications); practice of PFM use (experience, patient instruction,
documentation); and perceived barriers to PFM utilisation. All the collected
data were analysed with descriptive statistics (SPSS version 26).
Results: Knowledge of PFM use was poor, as only 55 nurses
(16.4%) correctly identified the PFM as a device for measuring airflow
limitation, and 28 (8.4%) recognised litres per minute as the standard
calibration unit. Across the seven scored knowledge items, the estimated mean
correct score was 2.36 ± 0.9 (out of 7), reflecting limited knowledge overall.
Practical use was similarly limited, with 93 (27.8%) reporting ever using a PFM
to assess a patient and 20 (6.0%) documenting peak flow values after
bronchodilator administration. Major barriers included work overload (329,
98.2%), high device cost (315, 94.0%), lack of time to teach patients (305,
91.0%), and administrative unavailability of PFMs (304, 90.7%).
Conclusion: Nurses at KATH demonstrated substantial gaps in
both knowledge and practice of PFM use despite acknowledging its clinical
importance. Integrating PFM training into pre-service nursing curricula,
providing regular in-service education, and ensuring consistent device
availability are critical to strengthening respiratory care in Ghana. This
study is limited by its cross-sectional design and single-site setting, which
constrain generalizability. Future research should therefore involve multiple
centres, include observational or audit data on PFM use, and examine both the
effects of structured training interventions and the contextual factors
influencing PFM utilisation in different clinical areas.
Author(s) Details
Afua Wirekowaa Adjei
Yeboah
Directorate of Internal Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi,
Ghana, Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives, Ghana and Christian Service
University, Kumasi, Ghana.
Susana Somuah
Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives, Ghana and Nursing and Midwifery
Training College, Koforidua, Ghana.
Rasheed Ofosu-Poku
Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives, Ghana, Christian Service University,
Kumasi, Ghana and Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission Hospital, Asokore, Ghana.
John Antwi
Directorate of Internal Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi,
Ghana, Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives, Ghana and Christian Service
University, Kumasi, Ghana.
Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/aodhr/v8/6760
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