Abstract:
The purpose of this study is to strengthen knowledge and skills on patient safety of Nursing
Officers’ in a Teaching Hospital as they are in direct contact with patients throughout the day.
The study was carried out in Colombo South Teaching Hospital in three phases. In the first
phase (pre-intervention), the existing/baselines knowledge and skills were assessed, training
need was analyzed and designed and the training module was developed. In the second phase
(intervention), a training course was designed and implemented. In the third phase (post-
intervention), the change of knowledge and skills and the feedback assessment was carried out
in order to find out whether any adjustments are necessary for the designed module were done.
The Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation (ADDIE) model was used
as the tool in this regard. The information gathered was incorporated in to the training
programme with the guidance and direction of a working committee comprising experts. Self-
Administered Questionnaire (SAQ) and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
were used to assess the knowledge and skills respectively, during both pre and post
interventions. The Nursing Officers in surgical and surgical related wards, performing 24
hours duty/ shift basis are considered as the total population. A convenient sample of 50
Nursing Officers was recruited for the study considering the number of Nursing Officers
working in each ward, in order to minimize service interruptions in the ward. The results of
pre-intervention were considered as the baselines of knowledge and skills. In the first phase the
training need was assessed, and the blue print of the course was designed. At the end of second
phase the training programmes was successfully conducted to the target group. During post
intervention phase, the improvement in knowledge and skills were assessed. There were
significant improvements in knowledge, in “ward environment and systems safety”, “adverse
events and near misses”, “medication safety and “communication”. There were significant
improvements in skills in “risk and prevention” , “adverse events and near misses”, “infection
control”, “medication safety” and certain aspects of “communication” such as “receipt calls
“and “admission” .This project revealed that this training course is very much effective in
strengthening knowledge and skills on patient safety of Nursing Officers.
