Assessment measures:
Subjects were asked to respond on a questionnaire, to explore their
baseline knowledge on LP as a diagnostic procedure. The questionnaire
was generated after careful review of the literature and a panel of
experts from relevant specialties, namely the PICU, ED, pediatric
neurology, and PID team members, who reviewed the quality and content of
each tool going to be used. The final version of the used tool was
tested to ensure clearance and appropriateness for the targeted
population in this study.
The respondents were asked to answer a knowledge test with either true,
false, or do not know, on six questions pre and post each educational
method (Appendix II). The questions were: LP is used to diagnose
meningitis, blood tests are good alternatives to LP for diagnosing
meningitis, computerized brain tomography (CT) scan can be an
alternative to LP for the diagnosis, a physician can diagnose meningitis
without the aid of LP, LP poses more risk to patients than the disease
itself, and neonates can undergo LP if they needed one. The correct
answers were rated with 10 points each, and incorrect answers were
assigned zero, so the maximum possible score was 60. The knowledge score
best correct answers were based on experts’ careful evidence review of
the epidemiological consequences of LP in both adults and
children.8-9
Additionally, the respondents were asked to answer seven questions that
tapped Perceived Risk of LP complications pre and post-education on a
0-4 Likert-like scale (coded as zero uncertain, 1 Never, 2 sometimes, 3
often, and 4 very often). This questionnaire included the followings: LP
can have very severe side effects, LP can lead to Paralysis, LP can lead
to enuresis, LP can lead to sterility, LP can lead to scoliosis, LP can
Lead to meningitis, general anesthesia is needed to obtain LP in
children, and lastly, LP can lead to chronic back pains. The maximum
possible score is equal to 7 items x 4= 28, and the uncertainty was
coded with zero. The summative analysis was utilized to compute a total
knowledge score (out of 60 possible correct answers) and total perceived
risk (also out of a maximum of 28 points).