Knowledge, perception and satisfaction with bed bath practices among confined patients in UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, Osogbo

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Abstract

Introduction: Bed bath is an important procedure done by the nurses to promote patients’ hygiene and prevent infection. Observations revealed that the materials for bed bath were usually improvised in majority of the hospitals in Osun state thus leading to variations from the standardized practice, as specified by guiding principles, hence the need to assess patients’ perception and satisfaction with the practices.

Objective: This study examined the knowledge, perception and level of satisfaction of bed bath among confined patients in UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria.

Method: A descriptive design was used. The target population was the confined but conscious patients in the hospital. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data from eligible and available 54 respondents. The data obtained were analyzed and discussed.

Results: The major findings revealed that 41(75.9%) of the respondents had high knowledge of bed bath, 28(51.9%) had good perception of it while 36(66.7%) were satisfied with the care. Patients’ inability to determine choice of water temperature and non-verbal communication by nurses were factors affecting the satisfaction derived from bed bath by the respondents. There was a significant association between respondents’ knowledge of bed bath (r = .796, p< .05) and satisfaction with it, however, there was no significant association between perception (r = 0.451, p> .05) and satisfaction.

Conclusion: Majority of the confined patients at UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, Osogbo had high knowledge of bed bath, good perception of it and most were satisfied with it. Nurses should take cognizance of the identified factors associated with patients’ satisfaction with the procedure with a view to improving the practice.