The British Journal of Developmental Disabilities

Vol. 48, Part 1, JANUARY 2002, No. 94, pp. 27-37

View PDF File

IMPACT OF AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME ON NURSING FOR CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Shira Katz and Ilana Hayout

Summary

A review of the literature indicates that people with developmental disabilities (DD) are viewed negatively by health care professionals, including nurses. Research in the area of attitudes of health care professionals towards this population suggest that education, exposure and experience in caring for people with DD help develop more positive attitudes, understanding and provision of higher quality care. The purpose of this programme was to enhance the quality of nursing care provided to children with DD and their families in hospital and community based frameworks. The programme included theoretical studies, clinical experiences, and implementation of nursing intervention plans. Twenty four nurses from a children™s hospital and from the community participated in the programme. Evaluation carried out at the end of the course and six months later indicated that the programme enhanced their ability to provide quality care to the children with DD.

*Shira Katz, Ph.D., RN.

Lecturer in the Nursing Department, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv

University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.

Tel: +972 3 6409660 Fax: +972 3 64099496 E-mail: katzsh2@hotmail.com

Ilana Hayout, PhD., RN.

Senior Teacher in the Nursing Department, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine,

Tel Aviv University.

* For Correspondence