volume 15 | Issue 1
volume 15 | Issue 1
volume 15 | Issue 1
volume 15 | Issue 1
volume 15 | Issue 1
Background Ventricular peritoneal (VP) shunt is the most common shunt placement in contrast with other shunt placements for treatment of hydrocephalus in children. Aim of the study: to assess mothers’ knowledge and practices regarding care of their children having VP shunt. Design: A descriptive research design was utilized to conduct this study. Subject: All available mothers(60) accompanying their children diagnosed with hydrocephalus and having VP shunt. Setting: The study was conducted at neurosurgery inpatient units and neurosurgery outpatient clinic affiliated to Ain-Shams University Hospitals over a period of six months. Tools: A structured interviewing questionnaire tool was used to assess personal characteristics and the level of mothers’ knowledge and an observational checklist tool was used to assess mothers’ reported practices regarding the care of their children having VP shunt. Results: The study findings revealed that more than two-thirds of the studied mothers had an unsatisfactory level of knowledge about VP shunt care. The majority of them had incompetent levels of reported practices. Also, there was a positive highly statistically significant correlation between the total level of mothers’ knowledge score and their total levels of reported practices score regarding the care of their children having VP shunt. Conclusion: The studied mothers had insufficient levels of knowledge and incomplete reported practices level regarding the care of their children having VP shunt. Recommendation: Conduct educational programs based on actual need assessment of mothers to improve their knowledge and practices regarding the care of their children having ventricular peritoneal shunt.