The effect of education of nurses on preventing catheter‐associated urinary tract infections in patients who undergo hip fracture surgery

• Published in: Journal of clinical nursing 2018-03, Vol.27 (5-6), p.e1078-e1088
• Main Authors: Seyhan Ak, Ezgi, Özbaş, Ayfer
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: catheter; Catheters; Continuing education; education; Fractures; Health risk assessment; hip fracture; Hip joint; nurse; Nurses; Nursing; Orthopedics; Surgery; urinary infection; Urinary tract diseases; Urinary tract infections; Urogenital system
• ISSN: 0962-1067; 1365-2702
• DOI: 10.1111/jocn.14160

Aims and objectives The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of educating nurses on preventing catheter‐associated urinary tract infections in patients who undergo hip fracture surgery. Background Urinary tract infections after hip fracture surgery are observed at a rate of 12% to 61%, and the most important risk factor associated with urinary tract infection is considered to be the presence of urinary catheters. Nurse education about the use and management of urinary catheters is important to decrease the risk of urinary tract infections. Design The study was semi‐experimental. Methods The study was conducted in an orthopedics and traumatology clinic of a training hospital between January 2014–December 2015. After a power analysis was performed, a total of 60 patients fulfilled the criteria to be included in the study, with n = 30 in the pre‐education group and n = 30 in the posteducation group. Nurses who worked in the orthopedics and traumatology clinic of the military hospital were the target population, and 18 nurses who consented to join the study constituted the sample. The “Patient Monitoring Form,” “Nurse Information Form” and “Daily Urinary Catheter Assessment Tool” were used as data collection tools. Results The mean pre‐education knowledge score of the nurses was found to be 68.05 ± 10.69, while the mean posteducation score was 95.13 ± 6.27. The mean catheter duration decreased from 11.06 ± 6.34 days–3.83 ± 0.95 days after the education. The catheter‐associated urinary tract infection rate decreased by 9.37 per thousand. Conclusion Educating nurses on preventing catheter‐associated urinary tract infections in patients who underwent hip fracture surgery significantly decreased the rate of catheter‐associated urinary tract infections and the duration of catheterisation. Relevance to clinical practice The systematic and comprehensive education of all healthcare professionals and the development and practice of catheter removal protocols could contribute to the prevention of catheter‐associated urinary tract infections.