Effectiveness of an Educational Program on Nurses' Knowledge regarding International Pediatric Early Warning Scoring System in Pediatric Wards

Abstract

Introduction: The International Pediatric Early Warning Scoring System (IPEWS) is a clinical scoring tool designed to assist healthcare teams in identifying early signs of illness in hospitalized children.  

Study Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program on nurses' knowledge regarding the international pediatric early warning scoring system in pediatric wards in Mosul City.

Material and Methods: A quasi-experimental study (one study group) was applied at pediatric teaching hospitals in Mosul City from 7 September 2025 to 15 April 2026. A simple random sample of (30) nurses from three different hospitals, 30 nurses, 10 nurses from each hospital. The program lectures contained four lectures, two lectures each week. The questionnaire contained two parts. The program lectures and questionnaire tool validity by a panel of (20) experts.

Results: The  total knowledge results in pre-tests of 73.3% (22) at an unacceptable level, while post-test 1 is 46.7% (14) at an excellent level, but post-test 2 is 73.3% (22) at a good level. It was analyzed using a paired samples t-test that the sample results of pre-post1, pre-post2, and post1-post2 in knowledge have a highly significant difference at P. value ≤ 0.05.  

Conclusion: Nurses’ knowledge regarding IIPEWS was unacceptable level during the pre-test phase, improved to an excellent level in Post-test 1 following implementation of the educational program, and remained at a good level during Post-test 2. These findings indicate that the educational program was effective in improving and sustaining nurses’ knowledge regarding the International Pediatric Early Warning Scoring System.