Nurses’ Performance to Reduce Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections: Self Learning Module

Abstract

Nurses’ Performance to Reduce Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections: Self Learning Module Asmaa Said & Dalia Abdallah Abdelatief Lecturers of Medical-Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection involving the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra. Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI) is the most commonly reported hospital-acquired condition, and the rates continue to rise. More than 560,000 patients develop CAUTI each year in worldwide, leading to extended hospital stays, in-creased health care costs, and patient morbidity and mortality. Nurses can play a major role in reducing CAUTI rates to save lives and prevent harm. Aim of the study: This study aimed to assessing nurses’ performance to reduce catheter associated urinary tract infection. This aim was achieved through assessing level of knowledge and practices for the study nurses, developing and implementing the self-learning module and evaluating effect of self-learning module (SLM) on nurses` performance and infection rates regarding catheter-associated urinary tract infection. Set-ting: The study was conducted at surgical wards, orthopedic wards and medical wards at El-Demerdash Hospital at Ain-Shams University Hospital. Subjects: A convenience sample of 40 nurses and purposive sample of 50 adult patients from the above mentioned setting was selected. Tools: Data were collected through: (1) catheterization questionnaire to assess nurses` knowledge regarding urinary catheterization, (2) urinary Catheter Insertion observational checklist, (3) urinary catheter care observational checklist to assess nurses’ practice regarding urinary catheterization and (4) patient assessment sheet to assess local and systemic signs of infection and urine cultures for detecting types and percentage of bacteria. The previously mentioned tools were used to evaluate effect of self-learning Module (SLM) pre, and post and after three months of its implementation and infection rates. Results of this study revealed that there was highly statistically significant positive effect for SLM on nurses’ knowledge and practice regarding urinary catheterization and statistically significant positive effect on reducing CAUTI. Conclusion: This study concluded that using of SLM is important to improving the nurses’ performance regarding urinary catheterization and in reducing CAUTI. Recommendations: The study recommended that, by consistently applying these interventions, we gain the opportunity to minimize CAUTI, thus lowering infection rates.