Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding intra-abdominal pressure monitoring among pediatric intensive care nurses: A cross-sectional study

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) and the training requirements of pediatric intensive care nurses regarding intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) monitoring, in order to provide a reference for the development of relevant training programs and operational procedures in clinical practice.

Methods

This descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted from April 2023 to June 2023. A convenience sample was created by recruiting 212 pediatric intensive care nurses in eight hospitals in Zhejiang Province. A self-developed IAP monitoring KAP assessment tool was used for evaluation, which included knowledge (14 items), attitude (6 items), and practice (8 items), three dimensions, 28 items.

Results

The overall KAP score was 60.73 ± 8.35; the knowledge score was 7.84 ± 2.35, with a scoring rate of 56.0%; the attitude score was 25.16 ± 3.23, with a scoring rate of 83.9%; and the practice score was 28.44 ± 6.46, with a scoring rate of 69.3%. Nurses wh-o have received IAP monitoring training have higher KAP score, knowledge score and practice score than those who have not received it (P < 0.05). Nurses aged ≤ 30 showed better knowledge of IAP monitoring than those aged > 30 (P < 0.05). Among the participants, 55.7% of the nurses believed the current knowledge was insufficient to perform IAP measurement effectively. Difficulty in identifying the high-risk population of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) (64.6%), unfamiliarity with the operation process of IAP measurement (55.6%), and unreasonable nurse-patient ratio allocation (52.8%) were the main obstacles for nurses to monitor IAP.

Conclusions

Pediatric intensive care nurses have a positive attitude towards IAP monitoring, but the knowledge level and practical behavior still need to be strengthened. In particular, the knowledge of published consensus definitions, measurement techniques, and frequency for IAP monitoring is inadequate. It is necessary to implement tailored IAP monitoring training based on their training needs and potential obstacles to promote the standardization and scientificity of IAP monitoring.