Knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning catheter-associated urinary tract infection amongst healthcare workers: a mixed methods systematic review

Nurs Open. 2023 Mar;10(3):1281-1304. doi: 10.1002/nop2.1384. Epub 2022 Dec 15.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate healthcare workers' knowledge, attitudes and practices level of prevention and management of catheter-associated urinary tract infection.

Design: A mixed-methods systematic review.

Methods: Searches were conducted in CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Medline, PubMed and Web of Science databases. Limited literatures published in English before 20 June 2021. Data were analysed and synthesized using thematic analysis by two authors.

Results: Thirty-four articles were included. Healthcare workers' unbalanced varied knowledge level, positive attitudes, undesirable practices of catheter-associated urinary tract infection's prevention and control were identified. Barriers of healthcare workers' knowledge, attitudes and practices level of infection prevention included heavy workload, understaffing, physician variability in indwelling urinary catheter (IUC) practice by diagnosis, nursing variability in IUC placement technique, poor relationship and nurse's poor documentation. Leadership, better education, teamwork, technique training and information technology support, advocacy for nurse-driven protocol and IUC removal reminder were considered as facilitators.

Keywords: catheter-associated urinary tract infection; healthcare worker; knowledge, attitude and practice; mixed methods; nurse; systematic review.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Catheters, Indwelling
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Health Personnel
  • Humans
  • Urinary Catheters
  • Urinary Tract Infections* / prevention & control