The knowledge-practice gap among critical care nurses regarding intra-abdominal pressure measurement

Abstract

Background: Critically ill patients are prone to life-threatening conditions, including intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS). These complications require prompt diagnosis and intervention, as elevated intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) can lead to compromised organ perfusion and failure. Aim: Assess the gap between nurses' knowledge and practices regarding intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) measurement. Research design: A cross section survey research design was adopted for this study. . Sample: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 64 nurses working in Assiut University Hospital’s intensive care units. Setting: The research was conducted in intensive care units of Assiut University Hospital including trauma care and general care, critical care, anesthesia care and surgical care units. Tools: Data was gathered using two tools: Nurses' knowledge assessment questionnaire comprising 20 multiple-choice questions, and an observational checklist to evaluate nurses' practices regarding IAP measurement. Results: The study revealed that 39.1% of nurses had very low knowledge, while 81.3% exhibited unsatisfactory practices in IAP measurement. A strong positive correlation (R=0.804, p < 0.001) was observed between knowledge and practice. Conclusions: The majority of nurses had a poor knowledge and fall into the "unsatisfactory practice" category regarding IAP measurement, IAH and ACS percentage of (81.8%), so it is essential to construct a continuous instructional program for nurses. Recommendations:Develop educational programs that emphasize the importance of accurate IAP measurement. Keywords: abdominal compartment syndrome, intra-abdominal hypertension, intra-abdominal pressure nurses' knowledge and nurses' practice.