Operating room nurses’ adherence to pneumatic tourniquet safety standards: A cross-sectional study

Background: Pneumatic tourniquets are among the most frequently used devices in operating rooms. A study on the compliance of operating room personnel with safetyprotocols in the application of pneumatic tourniquets will enhance patient safety and reduce workplace hazards. Method: The setting of this descriptive, cross-sectional study was three major teaching hospitals in Shiraz, Iran. The study was conducted between 2023 and 2024. The participants consisted of 300 operating room nurses selected by census sampling. Data were collected via questionnaire – the Pneumatic tourniquet work safety scale. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-test, Pearson correlation and chi-square tests at a significance level of 0.05 in SPSS v. 21. Results: The mean scores of the male and female participants in using pneumatic tourniquets were approximately equal, respectively 144.27±17.80 and 144.77±17.35 (p = 0.816), and at an average level. The results also showed a statistically significant correlation between participant scores in using pneumatic tourniquets and theirparticipation in workshops about the safety standards for application of pneumatic tourniquets (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings of the study highlight the importance of evaluating the application of pneumatic tourniquets by operating room personnel. Workshops cancontribute to the knowledge and practice of operating room personnel in the safe application of pneumatic tourniquets.