An exploration of frontline health professional's current understanding of non-fatal strangulation.
Loading...
Date
2024-07-07
Open Access Location
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Rights
(c) The author/s
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Abstract
Aim
To explore frontline health professionals' current understanding of non-fatal strangulation and their need for and support for a comprehensive education and screening package to support health delivery.
Design
A descriptive mixed-method approach was chosen to analyse responses to an anonymous, online survey consisting of ten Likert scale, open-ended and five demographic questions. 103 frontline health professionals (nurses, doctors, paramedics, midwives) participated in this study.
Methods
Content analysis of the Likert scale and open-ended questions describing the subjective experiences and perceptions of the participants was undertaken along with percentage and frequency counts of the rated Likert responses.
Results
The findings identified that 51.1% of health professionals do not ask about strangulation routinely and that 59% of health professionals reported receiving no formal education or professional development on NFS to enhance their knowledge or inform clinical practice. No health professionals identified mild traumatic brain injury as a consequence or sign of strangulation, nor did they identify an understanding that 50% of people may have no visible injuries after being strangled. Health professionals also do not routinely document the different agencies referred to or involved in supporting the person who experienced NFS.
Conclusion
Findings suggest that frontline health professionals lack the confidence, skills and education needed to meet medical obligations to their patients and to fulfil their duty to ‘do no harm’. Frontline health professionals would welcome a comprehensive education and screening package to guide recognition and response to non-fatal strangulation in their clinical settings.
Where and on Whom Will the Research Have an Impact?
The purpose of the study was to understand and explore health professionals' knowledge about non-fatal strangulation so that improved education around better screening, and management of trauma-focused care to people who have been subjected to non-fatal strangulation could occur.
No Patient or Public Contribution
This review contains no patient or public contribution since it examines health professionals' knowledge of identifying non-fatal strangulation and the screening and assessment tools used in clinical practice.
Description
Keywords
choking, frontline health professionals, health professionals, knowledge, non‐fatal strangulation, nurses
Citation
Donaldson AE, Ravono A, Hurren E, Harvey C, Baldwin A, Solomon B. (2024). An exploration of frontline health professional's current understanding of non-fatal strangulation.. J Adv Nurs. Early View.