Effect of Giving Brochures to Ventriculoperitoneal Shunted Children's Mothers About Preventing Shunt Infections

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of giving oral information and printed informative brochures on information and application levels of mothers with VP shunted children to prevent infections. Material and Methods: A prospective, randomized controlled trial design was conducted. Nine mothers in the study group were given printed informative brochures after a 15-minute oral informative session, whereas nine mothers in the control group were given only oral information. The effectiveness of these interventions was assessed at 15th and 90th days. Results: Mothers in both groups achieved significantly higher information and application level scores at 15th and 90th days when compared to their initial evaluation (p<0.05). In the study group, 90 days after the informative session, the mothers achieved statistically higher information level scores than the mothers in the control group (U=8.000, p=0.019). Conclusion: Giving printed informative brochures is more effective than giving only oral information on mothers' knowledge about preventing VP shunt infections. Printed informative brochures about preventing VP shunt infections could improve mothers' level of knowledge in the long term and avoid shunt infections.