Impact of training on forensic nursing knowledge: a pre-post study among nurses in northern Portugal
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29352/mill0222e.43434Keywords:
nurses; forensic nursing; trainingAbstract
Introduction: Forensic Nursing, a clinical field dedicated to evidence preservation, plays an increasingly relevant role in the assessment, treatment, and follow-up of victims of violence and offenders. Due to their strategic role in identifying, collecting, preserving, and documenting forensic evidence, nurses must possess evidence-based knowledge.
Objective: To analyze the effect of a specific training program on the level of knowledge in forensic nursing before and after its completion, according to the participants’ perception.
Methods: An exploratory quantitative study based on data obtained through the application of the Questionnaire on Knowledge about Forensic Nursing Practices (Libório & Cunha, 2012) to a sample of 49 nurses (N=49) from a Local Health Unit in Northern Portugal. The sample was predominantly female (91,8%), with a mean age of 33,04 years (SD=5,31), holding a bachelor’s degree (91,8%), a master’s degree (8,2%), and a specialist title (28,6%).
Results: The level of knowledge before training was 80,4%, increasing to 89,7% after the training. Improvements were observed in the assessed dimensions (before M=80,4; after m=89,7). The Communication and Documentation dimension showed a statistically significant difference (before M=86,7; after M=90,2; p>0,05), while the smallest change occurred in the General Nursing Care dimension (before M=89,0; after M=90,4).
Conclusion: Training showed a positive impact on the level of knowledge in forensic nursing, highlighting the importance of investing in training to strengthen knowledge in this field.
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