Exploring Nurses' Knowledge of and Attitudes Towards the Management of Patients with Heart Failure in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Design.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a significant health burden associated with severe morbidity, mortality, and hospitalization costs and it poses challenges not only to individuals and their families but also to societal and governmental resources. In fact, nurses are indispensable in managing HF patients. The success of patient self-care preparation through education relies not only on the patient's abilities and attitude but also on the nurse's proficiency in these tasks and their knowledge and attitudes can significantly impact patient outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate nurses' knowledge and attitudes regarding HF management in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a convenience sample of 218 nurses employed at King Fahad Specialist Hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through an online questionnaire with two sections: one assessing nurses' knowledge of HF management and the other evaluating their attitudes toward it. The data collection took place between March and June 2024. Results: Overall, 55% of nurses showed inadequate knowledge regarding HF management. Further analysis revealed that 46.8% of nurses had a negative attitude towards HF management. Multivariate analysis revealed that graduate nurses (bachelor or diploma) had significantly 4.48 times higher risk to produce inadequate knowledge of HF management in comparison to post-graduate nurses (OR = 4.48; CI 95% [2.18-9.21], p < 0.003). Regarding attitudes, nurses who did not receive previous training on HF management had a probability of 2.31 times to produce s negative attitude in comparison to nurses who received training (OR = 2.31; CI 95% [1.33-3.99], p = 0.003). Conclusions: The study underscores the need for educational programs, continuous professional development, promotion of positive attitudes, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to improve HF management. Future research should delve into the long-term impact of interventions, explore organizational factors, and investigate the relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and clinical practices.