A comparison betweenthe effectiveness of pacemaker care education through compact disc and group education on nurse's knowledge and performance in educational hospitalsof Arak University of Medical Sciences in 2012 Print

Cardiac arrhythmia is one of the most common cardio-vascular diseases. Pacemaker, as a curative method in treating patients with arrhythmia,diminishes a lot of their symptoms.Awareness of modern educational methods compared with traditional methods can help instructors to use more effective methods and train more competent nurses so they can provide more proper care for these patients.The aim of this study is to compare the effect of compact disc and group education on nurses’ knowledge and performance regarding pacemaker care. In this quasi-experimental study with two groups, all 40 nurses working in heart wards of educational hospitals of Arak University of Medical Scienceswere selected and allocated randomlyto two groups of Compact Disc and Group Education. Data collection tools included a questionnaire to assess their knowledgeand a checklist to evaluate their performance. Questionnaires and checklists were completed by nurses and the researcher before and one month after education. Data was analyzed using descriptive and interpretive statistical methods and SPSS version 17. Knowledge scores means in the two methods of CD and group education increased from 13.40 ± 4.7 and 15.10 ± 7.26 before education to 27.85 ± 2.43 and 25.85 ± 4.25 after education. That of performance increased from 7.40 ± 4.18 and 10.45 ± 7.16 before education to 27.30 ± 1.45 and 24.85 ± 3.22 after education.Mean scores of knowledge and performance in the two methods significantly increased after education (P≤0/0001). There was no significant difference between the two methods concerningknowledge scores means, but as for their performance, the difference was significant (P≤0/0001). Although compact disc and group education methods were both effective on nurses’ knowledge and performance, but teaching through compact disc was more effective in increasing performance. Thus, considering its numerous advantages such as its economical efficiency, the possibility to watch included films, etc., it is recommended to use it in educational programs.