Assessment of Mothers' Knowledge Regarding Care of Children Connected with Permanent Pacemaker

Abstract
Background: Permanent pacemaker is a small batterypowered
medical device designed to electrically stimulate the
heart muscle in an effort to restore the heart rhythm towards
normal. Pediatric pacemaker implantation is performed to
treat abnormalities of Sinoatrial (SA) node.
Aim of Study: To assess mothers' knowledge regarding
care of children connected with permanent pacemaker.
Subjects and Methods: A descriptive research design was
utilized. A convenient sample of 50 mothers of children under
five years have implanted permanent pacemaker were participated
in the study. The study was conducted in the arrhythmia
out-patient clinic at the Preventive Medicine and Social Center,
affiliated to Cairo University Hospitals. The required data
was collected through structured interview questionnaire
which developed by the research investigator to assess mothers'
knowledge regarding care of children connected with permanent
pacemaker.
Results: The results of the current study revealed that
more than three quarters of the mothers had unsatisfactory
level of knowledge regarding care of their children with
permanent pacemaker, although, the majority of them obtained
satisfactory level of reported care. There were statistically
significant positive correlations between the total mean score
of mothers' knowledge and reported care and their age, occupation,
place of residence and level of education.
Conclusion: The results concluded that the highest percentage
of the mothers had unsatisfactory level of knowledge
regarding care of children connected with permanent pacemaker.
It was recommended that raising the awareness of
mothers about care of children connected with permanent
pacemaker is mandatory through health education sessions
about the pacemaker, child's activities and home pre cautions.