Importance-Performance Analysis of Patient-Safety Nursing in the Operating Room: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Purpose

This study attempted to assess the perceived importance and performance of patient-safety nursing among operating room (OR) nurses and to identify the “concentrate here” level using importance-performance analysis (IPA). The goal was to identify the educational priorities of patient-safety nursing and to use it as foundational data to develop educational programs.

Methods

The IPA of patient-safety nursing (infection control, patient identification, specimen management, surgical coefficient, medical equipment and supplies, high-alert medicines, and damage prevention) was surveyed online for nurses in general hospitals in Korea, and the data of 47 participants were analyzed. Differences in the importance and performance of patient-safety nursing were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed rank test, and IPA was conducted to identify areas on which improvement efforts should be focused.

Results

Within the six areas of OR patient-safety nursing, notable differences in importance and performance were observed in infection control and surgical count areas. The IPA revealed specific items that require “concentrate here”, including handwashing, checking the cleanliness and sterility of medical equipment, and conducting 5-Rights checks before administering high-alert medications.

Conclusion

Regular training for OR nurses should encompass preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative infection control, as well as appropriate surgical counts. In particular, training, monitoring, feedback, and intervention should be provided on hand hygiene, sterilization maintenance, and accurate administration of high-alert medications, which are items included in “concentrate here”.

Keywords:

• patient safety
• perioperative
• education
• importance-performance analysis
• nursing

Data Sharing Statement

Data cannot be shared publicly because of restrictions by the Konyang University Institutional Review Board. Data are available from the Konyang University Institutional Data Access/Ethics Committee for researchers who meet the criteria for access to confidential data. Data requests can be addressed to the Konyang University Institutional Review Board (82-42-600-8466, [email protected]).

Ethics Approval and Informed Consent

This study submitted a research plan to the Konyang University IRB. This study was approved for review (IRB No.: KYU 2023-02-017).

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank everyone who took part in the survey.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (No. 2022R1F1A106359712). The funding agency had no role in any of the stages from study design to submission of the paper for publication.