Vi, Lai Sue
(2011)
Midwives' and nurses' knowledge and confidence
level in relation to obesity and adiponectin in
early pregnancy in Hospital Universiti Sains
Malaysia (HUSM}: a comparative study.
Other.
Pusat Pengajian Sains Kesihatan, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
(Submitted)
Abstract
Adiponectin have been implicated in both the physiological adaptation to pregnancy and
obstetrical complications while low plasma adiponectin has been identified as a risk factor for
type 2 diabetes. Knowledge on adiponectin level and its association with obesity and gestational
diabetes mellitus are important in obstetric care. To the researcher knowledge, there have been
no published studies paid to explore midwives' and nurses' knowledge and confidence level in
relation to obesity and adiponectin in early pregnancy in Malaysia. The aim of this study was to
explore the midwives' knowledge and confidence level in relation to obesity and adiponectin in
early pregnancy in maternity units, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) and to compare
with that of nurses working in the same maternity units. A cross sectional survey on all nursing
staffs (nurses and midwives) (n=91) in maternity unit HUSM was done using a self-administered
structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package Social Science
(SPSS) software version 18.0. Sixty-seven were midwives (74%) and 24 were nurses (26%). All
nurses and midwives in maternity unit agreed that obesity increase the adverse health outcome
to pregnant women. Independent t-Test revealed that midwives were more knowledgeable on
relation of adiponectin and obesity in early pregnancy, with a mean score of 9.9, compared to
nurses, with mean scores of 6.58 (p<0.05). Using the One-way ANOVA test, the result also
shown that the nursing staffs who have higher working experience have higher knowledge score
(11.67) on relation of adiponectin and obesity, compared to nursing staffs who have less
working experience (p<0.05). There is no association between knowledge score of the nursing
staffs in maternity unit with their confidence level in providing care and health teaching
(R2=0.032, p>0.05). Majority of the nursing staffs (82.4%) in maternity unit addressed the need of education regarding the relationships between adiponectin and pregnancy. A majority of the
nursing staffs (more than 50%) disagree that they have sufficient knowledge regarding the
relationships between plasma adiponectin with pregnancy and maternal overweight. This study
suggests that the nurses, as compared to midwives, who are also front line healthcare providers
lack adiponectin knowledge that is essential for daily practice. This low knowledge may affect
their confident level and care given to pregnant women. Although the midwives' knowledge
remains relatively higher than nurses, this warrants a need to promote adiponectin knowledge in
relation to obesity and early pregnancy among nurses and midwives. Therefore, review should
be made in the nursing and midwifery curricula. The results of this study herein presented can
serve as the basis to facilitate continuous education and research on adiponectin and its
association to obesity and in early pregnancy among other healthcare professionals.
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