Effectiveness of Clinical Practice Guideline of Respiratory Management for Children with Pneumonia

Abstract

This study was a quasi-experimental research aiming to investigate the effectiveness of clinical practice guideline of respiratory management for children with pneumonia. The sample were 60 children who were diagnosed with pneumonia and admitted in pediatric ward, Phrae hospital. Those were divided into 2 groups as controlled and experimental groups. Sample also were 60 parents of child patients. Research instruments were the clinical practice guideline of respiratory management for children with pneumonia, the structured observation of cooperative behavior while receiving aerosol therapy, the outcome record form of care, and the structured observation of respiratory care of the parents. Experiment was conducted from March–August 2010 for controlled group, and from March–August 2011 for experimental group. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Fisher’s exact test, independent t-test, and paired t-test.

The finding revealed that children cared with a developed clinical practice guideline showed positive results, including high cooperative behaviors (c² = 11.380, p < .01), a decrease in a number of days receiving aerosol therapy (c² = 8.013, p < .01), a decrease in length of hospital stay (t = 2.069, p < .05). Also, parents with a training regarding clinical practice guideline reported a high score of caring skills (t = 27.026, p < .001). 

This research study suggested the clinical practice guideline of respiratory management for children with pneumonia should be utilized among children with pneumonia to improve the effectiveness of respiratory management.