Unveiling nurses' expertise in disability care: A cross-sectional quantitative analysis

Abstract

Nurses often face challenges in addressing the needs and issues related to persons with disabilities (PwDs) due to gaps in their knowledge. This study aims to assess the level of knowledge among hospital nurses regarding PwDs and to identify variations in knowledge based on demographic characteristics. Employing a quantitative cross-sectional design, the research involved 386 nurses from RSUP dr. Sardjito, all with a minimum of a D3 education and over one year of experience. Data were collected from January to February 2021 using a Self-Administered Questionnaire focused on Knowledge of Health Care Professionals about PwDs. The analysis, conducted with Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests, revealed a median knowledge score of 19.00 (range: 5.00-23.00), with scores varying from 0 to 23. Notably, nurses' knowledge was significantly associated with their experience in caring for PwDs (p = .006). However, no significant differences were found in relation to age, gender, education level, contact with PwDs, or prior disability training. Findings indicate that many nurses are unaware of critical issues such as the risk of discrimination faced by disabled individuals, the capabilities of people with intellectual disabilities to manage personal affairs, and the benefits of an interdisciplinary approach to managing children with disabilities. Overall, while nurses’ knowledge of PwDs is generally good, there is a clear need for targeted programs to enhance their knowledge and experience in disability care. Implementing such programs could bridge the existing gaps and improve the quality of care provided to PwDs. 

Keywords: Disability care; nursing process; clinical experiences; community nursing; supporting programs