Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Doctors and Nurses towards Health Education Activities and Life Style Changes in Khartoum Teaching Hospital Khartoum Sudan

Background: Sudan is now facing the reality of double burden disease. Non-communicable diseases constitute a larger burden in terms of morbidity and mortality and the trend is increasing. Behavioral factors are strongly implicated as risk factors and are subject to behavioral change and health education. There Is lack of studies in Sudan relevant to health education activities among doctors and nurses.

Aims: To assess Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of doctors and nurses about health education activities and life style changes In Khartoum teaching Hospital.

Study Design: Analytical cross sectional hospital based study.

Place and Duration: Khartoum Teaching Hospital, between April and July 2013.

Methodology: Study sample included graduated licensed doctors and nurses, selected using stratified sampling (probability proportional to size). Sample size 196, in which 100 were nurses and 96 were doctors .data was collected by distributing self administered questionnaires. Ethical approval from any participant has been obtained. Database analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science program, version 20.

Results: Study revealed that (97%) of both doctors and nurses believed in the importance of health education, but Only (33%) of doctors and (29%) of nurses practice it regularly. Registrars practice more than medical officers (P =.429), males practice more than females (P =.289). Elder nurses practice regularly than younger ones (P=.037). 85% of nurses and 69% of doctors stated resentment of patients as the main hinder of practicing health education. Others mentioned lack of time, work overload, lack of skills and lack of clear protocol to be the cause.

Conclusion: In spite of their awareness of the importance of health education only few doctors and nurses practice it regularly, stating patient resentment and lack of time as major hinders.