Knowledge gaps and predictors of early urinary tract infections detection by nurses in the aged population

Aline Garbo Marino; João Daniel de Souza Menezes; Matheus Querino da Silva; Daniele Nunes Longhi  Aleixo; Emerson Roberto dos  Santos; Renato Mendonça Ribeiro; Maria Claudia  Parro; Alba Regina de Abreu  Lima; Heloisa Cristina Caldas; Vania Maria Sabadoto Brienze; Júlio César André; Rita de Cássia Helu Mendonça Ribeiro

doi:10.23750/abm.v96i2.16152

Knowledge gaps and predictors of early urinary tract infections detection by nurses in the aged population

Authors

Aline Garbo Marino Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
João Daniel de Souza Menezes Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil; Center for Studies and Development of Health Education - Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto (CEDES / FAMERP), Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8767-7556
Matheus Querino da Silva Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil; Center for Studies and Development of Health Education - Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto (CEDES / FAMERP), Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4569-2808
Daniele Nunes Longhi Aleixo Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil; Center for Studies and Development of Health Education - Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto (CEDES / FAMERP), Brazil
Emerson Roberto dos Santos Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil; Center for Studies and Development of Health Education - Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto (CEDES / FAMERP), Brazil
Renato Mendonça Ribeiro School of Nursing at the University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Maria Claudia Parro Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
Alba Regina de Abreu Lima Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil; 2Center for Studies and Development of Health Education - Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto (CEDES / FAMERP), Brazil
Heloisa Cristina Caldas Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil; Center for Studies and Development of Health Education - Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto (CEDES / FAMERP), Brazil
Vania Maria Sabadoto Brienze Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil; Center for Studies and Development of Health Education - Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto (CEDES / FAMERP), Brazil
Júlio César André Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil; Center for Studies and Development of Health Education - Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto (CEDES / FAMERP), Brazil
Rita de Cássia Helu Mendonça Ribeiro Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil; Center for Studies and Development of Health Education - Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto (CEDES / FAMERP), Brazil

Keywords:

urinary tract infections, early detection, aged, nursing care, nurses’ knowledge, geriatric assessment, early diagnosis, health personnel education, clinical competence

Abstract

Background and aim: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized elderly patients. Early detection of signs and symptoms by nurses is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to verify if nurses detect early the signs and symptoms of UTI in the elderly in hospital units.

Methods: An observational, cross-sectional study with a descriptive design and quantitative approach was conducted in a teaching hospital and a private hospital in northwestern São Paulo. Data were collected from August to November 2019 through individual interviews with 102 nurses using a validated questionnaire.

Results: The majority of nurses (93.14%) judged having sufficient knowledge in urological diseases. Those with time since graduation of ten years or more and professional experience of five years or more demonstrated knowledge above satisfactory in the early identification of UTI signs and symptoms in the elderly. Nurses in the intensive care unit had higher rates of correct answers regarding the concept of elderly according to WHO (p=0.037), diaper use increasing UTI risk (p=0.000), and UTI being more common in females (p=0.026). Fever was recognized by 84.31% as a sign not always present in UTI in the elderly.

Conclusion: Nurses detected early the signs and symptoms of UTI in the elderly in hospital units, especially those with longer time since graduation and professional experience. Periodic assessment of professionals' knowledge is important, and nurses must be updated and trained to conduct training with their team, aiming to provide excellent and evidence-based care.

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