Knowledge of Nurses Toward Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection: A Pre- and Post-Intervention Study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are among the most common healthcare-associated infections, significantly affecting patient outcomes and healthcare costs. Nurses play a pivotal role in CAUTI prevention due to their direct involvement in catheter care. However, evidence suggests notable gaps in knowledge and practice regarding CAUTI among nurses. OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of an educational intervention on nurses’ knowledge and attitudes toward the prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections. METHODS A quasi-experimental pre-post design was employed in a governmental tertiary hospital over four months. A total of 90 registered nurses from medical, surgical, and intensive care units participated. The intervention comprised simulation and case study-based training sessions. Knowledge and attitude were measured using a structured questionnaire before and after the intervention. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests, correlation analysis, and ANOVA using SPSS v16. RESULTS The mean overall knowledge score significantly improved from 19.2±5 pre-intervention to 31.5±4.8 post-intervention (p<0.001). All knowledge domains showed significant gains except for the policy and guidelines domain (p=0.12). Satisfaction with learning (r=0.82) and self-confidence (r=0.75) showed strong positive correlations with knowledge gains. Years of experience (r=0.35, p=0.005) and educational level (p=0.008) were significantly associated with knowledge improvement, while age, gender, nationality, and unit of work were not. CONCLUSIONS Educational interventions using simulation and case-based strategies significantly enhanced nurses’ knowledge and confidence in CAUTI prevention. Continuous professional education is essential to improve clinical practice and reduce infection rates in healthcare settings.