Optimising Fracture Outcomes: A Nursing Clinical Pathway Approach

Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of a Clinical Pathway Management Programme (CPMP) on the knowledge and practice of staff nurses caring for patients undergoing Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF). Material and Methods A quasi-experimental non-equivalent pre-test post-test control group design was adopted. Sixty staff nurses from two tertiary care hospitals in Mangaluru were selected through purposive sampling and assigned equally to experimental and control groups. Data was collected using a structured knowledge questionnaire and an observational practice checklist. The experimental group received a one-week CPMP training, while the control group received no intervention. Post-test assessments were conducted for both groups. Results The experimental group showed a statistically significant improvement in knowledge (mean score increased from 9.366 to 14.166; p = 0.001) and practice (mean score increased from 46.066 to 51.2; p = 0.001) following the intervention. No significant difference was observed in the control group. Enhancement in knowledge and practice was not associated with demographic variables. Conclusion The CPMP was effective in enhancing both knowledge and practice among nurses caring for ORIF patients. Incorporating structured clinical pathways into nursing education and routine practice can improve the quality of orthopaedic patient care.