Linked Life Data

7968031

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/7968031

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
8933
pubmed:dateCreated
1994-12-13
pubmed:abstractText
Although pulse oximeters are increasingly used to monitor patients on medical and surgical wards, staff seem to receive no specific training in the operation of these devices. We investigated the knowledge of junior doctors and nursing staff about pulse oximetry as used on seriously ill patients in a District General Hospital in Exeter, UK. 30 medical or surgical preregistration house officers or senior house officers and 30 staff nurses answered a structured questionnaire. Questions were asked about the theory behind pulse oximetry, factors affecting readings, "normal" values in various patients, values in hypothetical clinical situations, and what training subjects had received. Responses were scored against standard answers from reference texts. 97% of doctors and nurses did not understand how a pulse oximeter worked and were confused about factors influencing readings. Respondents gave a wide range of acceptable saturation values (eg, 90-100% for a fit adult), thus demonstrating poor understanding of physiological principles. There were serious errors made in evaluating saturation readings in hypothetical clinical situations. Only 1 doctor had received formal training in the use of pulse oximetry. Our survey revealed that junior doctors and staff nurses were untrained in pulse oximetry, lacked knowledge of basic principles, and made serious errors in interpretation of readings. Training is needed for staff who use pulse oximeters.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Nov
pubmed:issn
0140-6736
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
12
pubmed:volume
344
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1339-42
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1994
pubmed:articleTitle
Knowledge about pulse oximetry among medical and nursing staff.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Anaesthetics, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Wonford, UK.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article