Knowledge of oxygen therapy among healthcare professionals in non-intubated patients: a cross-sectional study in Somalia

BACKGROUND: Although oxygen therapy (OT) is a fundamental and life-saving intervention in the management of hypoxemia, it may lead to serious complications when applied incorrectly or in an uncontrolled manner. The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge levels and attitudes of healthcare professionals working in a tertiary hospital in Somalia regarding OT administered to non-intubated patients. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between 17 February and 2 March 2025 at Mogadishu Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Training and Research Hospital. A structured 23-item survey evaluating knowledge and attitudes related to OT was administered face-to-face to healthcare professionals consisting of nurses, resident physicians, and attending physicians. Knowledge levels were classified as poor (< 60%), moderate (60-79%), and good (≥ 80%) based on the percentage of correct responses. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 195 healthcare professionals participated in the study (42.6% nurses, 35.9% resident physicians, and 21.5% attending physicians). Overall, 49.2% of the participants (95% CI: 42.2% - 56.2%) reported knowing how to administer OT, though knowledge levels were predominantly poor across all professional groups regarding specific technical parameters, and 70% of nurses and 90% of physicians stated that OT training should be received (p = 0.223). The rate of receiving training before starting duty was higher among nurses (71.1%) than among residents (44.3%) (p = 0.003). As training sources, nurses more frequently reported school and orientation training, while attending physicians more frequently reported conferences/course programs (p < 0.001). Guideline use rates were similar across groups and were generally limited. Knowledge levels regarding low- and high-flow OT systems, indications, and monitoring parameters were poor in all groups. Knowledge of oxygen toxicity was higher among physicians than nurses (p = 0.001), and no significant difference was found among the groups in terms of awareness of morbidity and mortality (p = 0.189). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides descriptive and hypothesis-generating data highlighting significant knowledge gaps regarding OT among healthcare professionals in a resource-limited setting. The findings suggest a critical need for standardized protocols and continuous training programs, though future prospective studies are required to determine the causal relationships between these knowledge gaps and actual clinical practice or patient outcomes.