Nurses’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Toward Deep Vein Thrombosis Prevention at Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals in Northeastern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction Deep vein thrombosis affects millions of people worldwide each year and requires timely interventions because it causes life-threatening, preventable complications. Nurses play a pivotal role in the prevention of this health problem. Objectives This study aimed to assess nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, practices, and associated factors regarding deep vein thrombosis prevention at comprehensive specialized hospitals in northeastern Ethiopia, 2022. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 1 to August 30, 2022, employing a structured, self-administered questionnaire among 404 nurses. Study participants were selected through a simple random sampling technique. The data were entered into EpiData version 3.1 and exported to SPSS 25 for analysis. A binary logistic regression model was utilized to determine outcome variables and associated factors, and multivariable logistic regression was applied to control for potential confounders. Results A total of 404 nurses participated in the study, giving a response rate of 97.8%. In this study, 56.7% (95% CI [51.8%, 61.5%]), 59.0% (95% CI [54.0%, 63.7%]), and 59.4% (95% CI [54.6%, 64.2%]) of nurses had adequate knowledge, favorable attitudes, and satisfactory practices, respectively. Age ≥ 36 years (AOR = 2.73, 95% CI [1.18, 6.31], p = .02), using standard guidelines (AOR = 2.05, 95% CI [1.25, 3.33], p = .001), deep vein thrombosis education (AOR = 1.97, 95% CI [1.15, 3.38], p = .01), and training (AOR = 2.85, 95% CI [1.69, 4.8], p = .001) were significantly associated with knowledge. Monitoring system (AOR = 4.06, 95% CI [2.50, 6.59], p = .001), deep vein thrombosis education (AOR = 1.88, 95% CI [1.14, 3.10], p = .01) and adequate knowledge (AOR = 1.68, 95% CI [1.03, 2.72], p = .04) were associated with practice. Educational status (AOR = 1.79, 95% CI [1.16, 2.77], p < .001) and work experience (AOR = 1.85, 95% CI [1.02, 3.42], p = .04) were factors independently associated with attitude. Conclusion Slightly more than half of the nurses demonstrated adequate knowledge, favorable attitudes, and satisfactory practices. Deep vein thrombosis education, training, availability of guidelines, and educational status were significantly associated with nurses’ knowledge of deep vein thrombosis prevention. Work experience, workload and educational status were associated with attitudes, while monitoring, deep vein thrombosis education and adequate knowledge had a significant association with practices.