Effectiveness of Health Educational Program on Nurses ' Knowledge toward Alternative Communication Strategies for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the Autism Centers in DhiQar Governorate

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed at evaluate the effectiveness of health education program on nurse knowledge toward alternative communication strategies for children with Autism spectrum disorder at the autism centers. Methods: The study was designed as a quasi-experiment design using test– retest approach for study group and control group participants employed. The study is carried out at the Autism Centers in Dhi Qar Governorate (Dhi Qar Autism Center - Autism Center in Shatrah) This Centers provide Health care to children with autism spectrum disorder. A non - probability purposive sample selected from nurses who were working at the Autism centers in Dhi Qar governorate. The sample (25) nurses enrolled as a control group and (25) nurses enrolled as a study group. The study group participants were exposed to an educational program. The data collection process uses the self-administrating technique in which the nurse fills the questionnaire form by themselves. Through the descriptive statistic, data were analyzed. Results:Findings shows there is no statistically significance at pretest period at p. value 0.05., while tat posttest-1period statistically significance differences at p. value 0.05 and statistically significance differences at posttest-2 period at p. value 0.001 Conclusion: Nurses' knowledge who work in the ASD centers before application the health educational program was poor in pre-test, and after Implementation of the program, their knowledge was improved in post-1, and post-2 tests , indicating that nurses' knowledge improved as a result of obtaining the health educational program. Health educational program should be provided for the two nurses working in the centers for Autism Spectrum Disorder, similar to the program in the study group in this study.