The knowledge about autonomic dysreflexia among nursing and physiotherapy students

Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a condition affecting individuals with spinal cord lesions, triggered by stimuli below the lesion level. It's crucial for healthcare professionals to recognize and manage AD to prevent life-threatening complications. The study aimed to assess the knowledge of AD among nursing and physiotherapy students. Results showed a low level of knowledge, highlighting the need for improved education. Nurses and physiotherapists are often the first healthcare professionals to interact with patients who have spinal cord injuries, making their understanding of AD particularly important for timely intervention and prevention of severe outcomes.

• 1
  Most students (73.6%) self-assessed their knowledge about autonomic dysreflexia as none or poor, indicating a significant gap in their understanding of the condition.
• 2
  The average autonomic dysreflexia knowledge test score was low, with nursing students scoring slightly higher (5.6 points) than physiotherapy students (4.9 points), but the difference was not statistically significant.
• 3
  Work experience did not significantly impact the autonomic dysreflexia knowledge test scores, suggesting that practical experience alone is not sufficient to compensate for the lack of formal education on the topic.