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

Abstract

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".