Training needs in intravenous infusion care for children in China: A cross-sectional study

Aim: This study aims to evaluate demands for general and pharmacological knowledge and training related to intravenous (IV) therapy among pediatric nurses. Materials and Methods: This multicentric cross-sectional study involved 12,707 pediatric nurses from 100 hospitals in China. A questionnaire was used to assess information about IV drug administration training received, and the demands for pharmacology-related knowledge, and corresponding methods of acquisition. A generalized linear model using Logit link function was employed to assess relationships between factors and multivariate analysis was conducted. Results: More than 99% of participants showed their training demands for IV therapy training. Pediatric nurses' demands and methods for acquiring IV therapy knowledge and the knowledge related to IV therapy pharmacology have significant differences in social demographic factors, previous knowledge, whether they have received training or not, and other factors (all P < 0.05). Received a needlestick injury in the past month (P = 0.007) and knowledge acquired through in-hospital or out-of-hospital training (P = 0.039) were factors that reduced the demands for methods to acquire further pharmacology-related knowledge of IV therapy. Working in internal medicine (P = 0.025) and not having experienced a needlestick injury in the past year (P = 0.007) reduced the demands for IV therapy knowledge. Attended hospital (P = 0.007) or departmental meetings (P = 0.009), being pediatric primary nurses (P = 0.044), and studied special IV guidelines (P = 0.006) reduced the desire for methods to acquire IV therapy knowledge. Conclusion: There was a high demand for greater general and pharmacological knowledge related to IV therapy among pediatric nurses. Resources should be coordinated to provide ongoing training to nurses to improve the quality of IV care.