A survey of nurses’ knowledge of evidence-based guidelines for indwelling urinary catheter care

<h2>ABSTRACT</h2><h3>Background</h3> Urinary tract infections are one of the most common healthcare-associated infections, with catheter-associated urinary tract infections being a significant burden on healthcare systems globally. <h3>Aim</h3> To assess nurses' knowledge of evidence-based indwelling urinary catheter care and explore the barriers and facilitators of evidence-based indwelling catheter care. <h3>Design</h3> A cross-sectional survey-based study of nurses in an acute private hospital in Western Australia was conducted from March 2021 to April 2021. <h3>Methods</h3> Respondents were recruited using a convenience sampling method. The questionnaire included (1) demographics, knowledge of: (2) indications, (3) catheter care, (4) catheter-associated urinary tract infections prevention, and two open-ended questions on facilitators and barriers. Descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted using SPSS (version 27.0), and content analysis of the open-ended responses was performed. <h3>Results</h3> Sixty-three nurses responded (response rate: 37.1%). Nurses' mean knowledge scores for catheter indications (77.5%), care (88.8%), and evidence-based practice (85.8%) varied. No significant differences were found based on demographic characteristics. Facilitators to nurses utilising evidence-based guidelines included access to education and training, organisational resources, and time. Barriers included a lack of time, a lack of knowledge, poor accountability for practice, a need for organisational resources/policies, challenges with other health professionals, and patient-related factors. Other comments focused on the need for more training and improvements in practice. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Nurses' varied knowledge levels of evidence-based indwelling urinary catheter care highlight a need for education, supportive organisational policies and resources, and for nurses to take accountability for their practice.