ENHANCING COMPETENCY IN RHEUMATIC HEART DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) remains a significant cause of cardiovascular disability in India. Since nurses are the primary coordinators of long-term prophylaxis and patient education, their clinical competence is vital for effective disease management. Objectives: The study aimed to: (1) Assess baseline knowledge and attitude levels of nursing students regarding RHD management; (2) Develop and administer a Structured Teaching Programme (STP); (3) Evaluate the effectiveness of the STP by comparing pre- and post-test scores; and (4) Associate findings with selected demographic variables. Methods: A quantitative research approach with a pre-experimental one-group pre-test/post-test design was adopted. The study was conducted in Jan 2026 at Swetha college of Nursing Bengaluru. Purposive sampling was used to select 50 B.Sc. Nursing 2nd-year students. Data were collected using a structured knowledge questionnaire and a 10-point attitude scale. The tool's reliability was established using the Spearman-Brown Rank Coefficient Correlation ($r = 7.73$). Results: Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysis. The pre-test revealed that several students scored below average. Post-intervention, the overall mean knowledge score increased from 10.9 (pre-test) to 14.1 (post-test). The obtained ‘t’ value of 7.46 was significantly higher than the table value of 2.02 at a 0.05 level of significance. Conclusion: The study concludes that the Structured Teaching Programme was highly effective in significantly improving the knowledge and enhancing the attitude of nursing students toward RHD management.