The Effect of a Guideline-Based Training Program on the Knowledge Level of Rehabilitation Nurses About Intermittent Catheterization: A Pretest-Posttest Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of an educational program, based on the 2024 European Association of Urology Nurses guidelines, on the knowledge level of rehabilitation nurses regarding intermittent catheterization (IC).

DESIGN

Single-group pretest-post-test quasi-experimental study.

METHOD: Twenty-one rehabilitation nurses from a tertiary-level rehabilitation centre in Turkey participated in a 60-min single face-to-face training session (lecture) based on the European Association of Urology Nurses (EAUN) 2024 guideline Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and a 20-item IC knowledge test. Pretest and post-test scores were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

RESULTS

The 21 participants (100% female; mean professional experience 17.95±9.61 years) showed a significant increase in knowledge scores (pretest: 14.04±1.65; post-test: 18.61±1.88; P<.001), representing a 32.5% improvement. Incorporating updated, evidence-based guidelines such as those from the European Association of Urology Nurses into nursing education can enhance clinical competence.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical relevance of this study is that guideline-based training effectively improves the IC knowledge of rehabilitation nurses, potentially reducing complications associated with IC and improving the quality of care and patient outcomes such as patient safety. Regular updates to training content, aligned with current best practice guidelines, are essential for maintaining safe and effective patient care.