Influence of Continuous Training on Nurses Knowledge and Attitude Toward Safe Patient Care at Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH), Bahawalpur-Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Ongoing professional education is one of the key pillars of patient care and safety. Nevertheless, there is a lack of evidence on its effects on the knowledge and attitudes of nurses working in tertiary hospitals in Pakistan.

Purpose: To determine the impact of continuous training on the knowledge of nurses and their attitudes towards providing safe patient care at Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur.

Methods: A cross-sectional study in a descriptive design was introduced on 150 RNs using a structured questionnaire that contained demographic information, training exposure, knowledge tests, and attitude scales. Analysis of data was done using SPSS with the level of significance of p < 0.05.

Findings: The attendance of nurses in training was found to be 70 per cent in the last year. The perceptions of knowledge were moderate (mean = 7.4 ± 1.9) and high in 46.7% and 40% of the participants respectively. Attitude scores showed positive attitude towards patient safety (mean= 38.6 +6.2) and the scores were much higher among trained nurses (p < 0.05). The workload (63.3%), the staffing shortage (53.3%), and the limited time (46.7%), were major obstacles to training.

Conclusion: On-going training is found to be a major improvement in patient safety knowledge and attitude among the nurses at BVH. These results require institutional support, proper scheduling and management participation.

Recommendation: To enhance the culture of patient safety, BVH management should formalize routine and context-specific training and establish policy structures that guarantee participation, assessment, and follow-up on patient safety.