Knowledge and attitude of health workers regarding catheter-associated urinary tract infection in tertiary care hospitals, Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: To assess the knowledge and attitude of house officers, residents, specialists and nurses regarding urinary catheterisation and catheter-associated urinary tract infection in tertiary care hospitals.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from February to July 2018 at 9 hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan, and comprised doctors and nurses. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Knowledge and attitude regarding urinary catheterisation were compared between doctors and nurses. Data was analysed using SPSS 23.

Results: Of the768 individuals approached, 485(63%) agreed to participate. Of them, 358(74%) were doctors and 127(26%) were nurses. Among the doctors, 261(73%) were house officers, 58(16%) residents and 39(11%) specialists. When asked if avoiding catheter kinking was an effective way to prevent CAUTI, 194(54.19%) doctors got it correct as opposed to 102(80.31%) nurses. When the doctors and nurses were asked if the catheter should be removed whenever it is convenient for healthcare personnel, 354(98.88) doctors and 112(88.18) nurses gave the correct answer (p=0.041).

Conclusions: There was reasonable knowledge and attitude among nurses and doctors towards urinary catheterisation and preventive measures related to catheter-associated urinary tract infection.

Keywords: Health workers, Urinary catheterisation, Knowledge, Attitude, Urinary tract infection..