Predictors Of Effective Electrocardiography Practice Among Nurses In Emergency Care Units Of A Nigerian Tertiary Teaching Hospital: Implications For Patient Outcomes
Keywords:
Electrocardiography, Emergency Care, Nurses, Healthcare InfrastructureAbstract
Background: Electrocardiography (ECG) remains an essential diagnostic modality for the rapid evaluation of patients in emergency settings; however, its optimal use is often limited by institutional and operational constraints. This study assessed the factors influencing ECG use during emergency care in selected units of a Nigerian Teaching Hospital.
Method: A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, involving 109 healthcare professionals working in emergency-related units. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire through convenience sampling and analysed with SPSS version 20 using descriptive statistics. The instrument was also pre-tested, yielding a reliability coefficient of 0.70.
Results: The majority of respondents (89.7%) identified the availability of functional ECG machines as a critical determinant of timely ECG use, while 64.2% reported recurrent equipment malfunctions. Inadequate availability of consumables (66.0%) and the lack of clearly defined institutional protocols (79.9%) were also reported as significant barriers. Additionally, 86.3% of participants indicated that staff shortages adversely affected the effective application of ECGs during emergencies. Despite high awareness of the clinical importance of ECG in emergency care, infrastructural limitations, supply inadequacies, equipment failures, and workforce constraints substantially hindered its effective utilization.
Conclusion: The study concludes that optimizing ECG use in emergency settings requires strategic investments in equipment acquisition and maintenance, consistent supply of consumables, development and implementation of standardized protocols, and strengthening of human resource capacity through adequate staffing and targeted training. These interventions are essential to improve emergency response efficiency and patient outcomes.
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