End-stage renal disease is a worldwide problem that requires highly skilled nursing care. Hemodialysis (HD) is a corner-stone procedure in the management of most patients who require renal replacement therapy. Adequate vascular access is essential for the successful use of HD. Appropriate knowledge in taking care of vascular access is essential for minimizing complications and accurately recognizing vascular access-related problems. This study was to evaluate the effect of an educational program for vascular access care on nurses' knowledge at nine dialysis centers in Khartoum State. This was a Quasi experimental study (pre-and post-test for the same group). Sixty-one nurses working in these HD centers were chosen by simple random sampling method. A structured face-to-face interview questionnaire based on the Kidney Dialysis Outcome Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) clinical practice guidelines for vascular access care was used. Instrument validity was determined through content validity by a panel of experts. Reliability of the instrument was tested by a pilot study to test the knowledge scores for 15 nurses. The Pearson correlation coefficient obtained was (r = 0.82). Data collection was taken before and after the educational intervention. A follow-up test was performed three month later, using the same data collection tools. Twenty-two individual variables assessing the knowledge levels in aspects related to the six K/DOQI guidelines showed improvement in all scores of the nurses' knowledge after the educational intervention; and the differences from the preeducational scores were statistically significant (P < 0.001). The study showed that a structured educational program based on the K/DOQI clinical practice guidelines had a significant impact on the dialysis nurses knowledge in caring for vascular access in HD patients. The knowledge level attained was maintained for at least three months after the educational intervention.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major health problem worldwide. Raising awareness of various aspects of the disease among patients who have TB is important to help in control and prevention. Aims: This was a quasi-experimental study, pre-and post-test, designed to evaluate the effect of an educational intervention on awareness among patients with pulmonary TB. Methods: A structured questionnaire covering various facts about pulmonary TB was used in the pre-intervention phase for 150 TB patients who were being followed-up in a major hospital in Sudan (r = 0.80). The same questionnaire was reused after the patients underwent an educational awareness programme. Results: There were more males (74%) than females. Mean age was 36.5 years. Most patients (86.6%) had some education, however, their knowledge about aspects of TB was generally poor prior to the intervention. This included the nature of the causative organism, modes of transmission and measures needed for the control and prevention. Post-intervention, there was significant improvement in all aspects of knowledge tested (P < 0.007). Conclusion: Although the diagnosis of TB in the participants was confirmed and they were on 1 / 9 WHO EMRO | The effect of an educational intervention on awareness of various aspects of pulmonary tub regular clinical follow-up, their knowledge about various aspects of TB was poor prior to the educational intervention. There is a need for more effort towards raising awareness among patients with TB about their disease while on treatment. This is important to help control and prevent the disease.

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Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an important option for treatment of patients with end stage kidney disease (ESKD). PD is primarily a nursing procedure and needs professionally skilled nurses for optimal performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and competences of nurses working in PD units who had little or no formal prior training courses. Methods: Forty nurses working in four PD centers in Khartoum, Sudan, for one or more years were enrolled in this study. Nine nurses (22.5%) had structured training courses prior to employment, while 31 of them (77.5%) had no formal training in PD care prior to their employment in the centers, and were trained by apprenticeship to senior nurses. A structured face to face interview questionnaire was used to assess nurses' knowledge, and an observational checklist to observe their practical skills. Instrument validity and reliability were tested by a pilot study on five nurses. Pearson correlation coefficient obtained was (r = 81) for the knowledge and (r =74) for the practice. The nurses in the study were divided into four groups, and exposed to educational sessions for knowledge and practical skills at a rate of once per week for six weeks. A post-course assessment of knowledge and skills using the same tools was conducted four weeks after completion of the course. Data was analyzed using paired-sample t-test and 95% C.I. Significance was set at P<0.05. Results: Nurses' knowledge pertaining to ESKD and management of PD and their practical skills improved significantly in most variables tested after the educational and training intervention. The improvement was much more evident in nurses who had no previous structured training in PD management. Conclusion: This study shows that PD nurses who had experience in performing PD procedures for more than one year but had no formal training were deficient in many aspects of proper PD nursing care. On the job-training seems to be not enough to give good knowledge and practical skills in nursing management of PD patients.