Ocena wiedzy studentów pielęgniarstwa, położnictwa i opiekunów medycznych na temat postępowania w omdleniach

. Syncope is defined as a state of short-term loss of consciousness with reduction of muscle tone due to insufficient hypoxic brain. It is characterized by a sudden onset and spontaneous, complete subsiding. Approximately 30–40% of all syncopes of unclear origin represent vasovagal syncope which are the most common type among children, young people (75–85%) and in people in old age. Syncope is a common condition, and any loss of consciousness always causes concern the patient and his/her relatives. A strong sense of the disease and the risk of even life-threatening situations accompanying syncope reduces comfort and quality of life. The leading method of treatment of vasovagal syncope is to educate the patients and their families. Good education of the patient helps to avoid situations that lead to the development of a vasovagal reaction and also helps to learn the proper procedure when dealing with prodromal symptoms. A nurse has a great role in the education, therefore it is so important for her to know the basic rules of syncope prevention. Aim . The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of learners of medical sciences on dealing with syncope. Material and Methods . The survey involved 133 patients, including 66 (49.6%) first-year students of the second degree in nursing (12 — part-time students and 54 — full-time students), 39 (29.3%) first-year students studying the second degree in midwifery (21 full-time students and 18 — part-time) and 28 (21.1%) trainees studing to be a medical caretaker. The applied research method was a diagnostic study conducted with the use of an anonymous survey questionnaire, which contained only closed questions. Results . 75% of the study group has witnessed syncope and a vast majority (97.7%) declare they know how to help the person who fainted, and who presents prodrome symptoms (98.5%). In order to assist the person who fainted most respondents indicated the answer: “opening a window” (95.4%) and “lifting the legs up” (92.4%), whereas 29 respondents said that the person who fainted should be given a glass of water (21.8%). In the event of syncope symptoms most respondents would recommend leaving the stuffy air (93.9%), change in body position to lying or sitting and lifting the lower limbs (75.93%). The smallest number of the answers obtained referred to cough provoking (18.0%), trotting (9.02%), abdominal flexion (9.77%) and clenching the fists (5.26%). Conclusions . The study group was characterized by a good general knowledge of the proceedings in syncope, with a better knowledge shown by people with higher education. More rarely the respondents demonstrated the knowledge on behavior in the case of prodromal symptoms, such as the use of cough, tripping and arms and wrists straining. (JNNN 2016;5(2):40–45)