Barriers to Quality Nursing Burn Care in Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kenya

Background The incidence of burns has significantly increased over the last decades. Although there is an extensive amount of literature on burns related injuries in Kenya, there is no evidence of studies which have examined barriers to quality nursing burn care in public health facilities in the country. Objective To examine factors hindering quality nursing burn care at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. Material and Methods Six variables were assessed namely nurse age, nursing responsibility, availability of consumables, pre and post-operative care, staffing and the equipment which is always working and in good condition. Results Availability of consumables negatively predicted barriers to quality nursing care among nurses who were currently working in the burn unit (t = -2.37; p = 0.02). And a positive predictor among those who had worked in the burn unit before (t = 2.00; p = 0.05). Equipment always working and in good condition was a positive predictor among nurses who had never worked in the burn unit (t = 2.38; p = 0.02). Conclusion Staffing, proper working equipment and availability of consumables are major barriers to the provision of quality nursing for burn patients