Background:

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction that is often inadequately treated in the hospital setting, leading to adverse outcomes. We hypothesize that a brief educational intervention will enhance knowledge of community-based medical professionals evaluated by pre- and post-questionnaires, leading to improved recognition and management of anaphylaxis.

Methods:

An initial questionnaire consisting of eight multiple-choice questions and two fill in response pertaining to anaphylaxis identification, management, and treatment was completed by 189 University Hospitals Regional Hospitals personnel, including faculty, nurses, student, residents, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The participants were then offered an educational intervention, including a 10-slide, 20-minute PowerPoint presentation on anaphylaxis, and review of the pre-educational intervention questionnaire responses, followed by a post-educational intervention questionnaire similar to the initial questionnaire. Seventy-seven participants completed the same questionnaire at a six-month follow-up to assess retention.

Results:

Participant scores improved from 62% to 94%, from the initial questionnaire to the immediate post- educational intervention questionnaire. The six-month post-educational intervention questionnaire revealed a return to near baseline (65%) medical knowledge regarding anaphylaxis

Conclusion:

Healthcare personnel demonstrate a knowledge deficit of identification and management of anaphylaxis. In the short-term, a brief, educational intervention did improve knowledge of anaphylaxis (p<0.00001). However, in the long-term, this educational intervention did not improve knowledge retention about anaphylaxis (p=0.52218). We received approval for and implemented an anaphylaxis order set in the electronic medical record (EMR) at University Hospitals, in effort to improve patient care.

Anaphylaxis, epinephrine, questionnaire, order set, knowledge retention
This content is only available as a PDF.