Impact of a “Golden Hour” Educational Intervention on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Nursing Staff in Pediatric Emergency Departments Caring for Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Abstract

The “golden hour” is an international protocol, spearheaded by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, for the management of pediatric cancer patients (ALL). Objective: To evaluate the impact of an educational intervention on nursing staff regarding the implementation of the “golden hour” protocol for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Methodology: A quasi-experimental study was conducted based on a quality improvement model that employs a collaborative approach and continuous improvement methodology. The study was carried out in emergency departments at various hospitals among 110 nurses working different shifts and was conducted in three phases:Phase I: adaptation and validation of the measurement instrument to assess participants’ knowledge level before the educational intervention; Phase II: design and implementation of a training program through theoretical and practical sessions on the “Golden Hour” protocol; and Phase III: assessment of participants’ knowledge before and after training and evaluation of the educational program’s impact. Descriptive and comparative statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 30.0. Results: Before the educational intervention, 71% of participants were at the low level, 25% at the medium level, and 4% at the high level. Following the educational intervention, the high level reached 89%, the medium level decreased to 5%, and the low level to 1%. Conclusions: Following the implementation of the educational intervention, a significant improvement was observed in knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding the “golden hour” protocol in the care of pediatric patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). There was a significant increase in understanding of key timeframes, warning signs, and essential therapeutic measures during the first hour of care, as well as a greater ability to prioritize key interventions, such as the timely administration of antibiotics, monitoring of vital signs, and identification of early complications, such as septic shock.