Nurses’ views about preoperative hair removal (N = 123)_
| Variables | N | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Do you think there is a relationship between SSI and hair removal? | ||
| Yes | 121 | 98.3 |
| No | 2 | 1.7 |
| Hair removal method to be used before surgery | ||
| Razor/shaving | 79 | 64.2 |
| Clipper/clipping | 31 | 25.2 |
| Using a depilatory cream | 13 | 10.6 |
| Timing of preoperative hair removal | ||
| The night before surgery | 91 | 74.0 |
| 2–4 h before surgery | 32 | 26.0 |
| The person to perform preoperative hair removal | ||
| Nurse | 36 | 29.3 |
| Patient/patient relative | 87 | 70.7 |
Distribution of nurses’ answers to the statements about preoperative hair removal and prevention of SSI_
| No | Questions | Yes | No | I do not know | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N | % | N | % | N | % | ||
| 1 | SSI is an infection that develops following or due to a surgical intervention and occurs within 30 d or 90 d following surgery. | 98 | 79.7 | 8 | 6.5 | 17 | 13.8 |
| 2 | Chlorhexidine gluconate is the best antiseptic solution recommended for preoperative skin preparation. | 78 | 63.4 | 14 | 11.4 | 31 | 25.2 |
| 3 | The purpose of preoperative skin preparation is to reduce the number of microorganism colonies in the patient’s skin flora by using an appropriate antiseptic agent. | 101 | 82.1 | 16 | 13.0 | 6 | 4.9 |
| 4 | I make sure that the patient takes a bath/shower with an antiseptic agent before surgery. | 53 | 43.1 | 46 | 37.4 | 24 | 19.5 |
| 5 | It is acceptable not to remove hair if it does not impede the visual field in the surgical incision area. | 55 | 44.7 | 62 | 50.4 | 6 | 4.9 |
| 6 | If preoperative hair removal is to be performed, immediately before the incision is the optimal time. | 41 | 33.3 | 68 | 55.3 | 14 | 11.4 |
| 7 | If preoperative hair removal is to be performed, using a razor is the best method. | 37 | 30.1 | 61 | 49.6 | 25 | 20.3 |
| 8 | If preoperative hair removal is to be performed, using depilatory cream is the best method. | 43 | 35.0 | 53 | 43.1 | 27 | 22.0 |
| 9 | If preoperative hair removal is to be performed, using an electric shaver (clipper) is the best method. | 74 | 60.2 | 21 | 17.1 | 28 | 22.8 |
| 10 | Before surgery begins, the incision area should be wiped with a suitable antiseptic agent. | 119 | 96.7 | 3 | 2.4 | 1 | 0.8 |
| 11 | If the incision is closed primarily after surgery, the sterile wound dressing should be monitored and protected for 24–48 h in terms of bleeding and discharge. | 122 | 99.2 | 1 | 0.8 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 12 | During dressing change, hands should be washed before and after contact with the wound. | 122 | 99.2 | 1 | 0.8 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 13 | During dressing change, I wash my hands in accordance with the hygienic hand washing instructions before and after contact with the wound. | 120 | 97.6 | 3 | 2.4 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 14 | Dressing change in the postoperative period should be done using a sterile technique. | 112 | 91.1 | 10 | 8.1 | 1 | 0.8 |
| 15 | I use protective equipment (gowns, masks, glasses-face shields, and gloves) in case of contaminating blood and other infectious materials during dressing change. | 119 | 96.7 | 3 | 2.4 | 1 | 0.8 |
| 16 | When changing dressings, I use disposable sterile dressing materials and sterile gloves specific to each dressing. | 112 | 91.1 | 9 | 7.3 | 2 | 1.6 |
| 17 | I use an appropriate antiseptic solution to clean the surgical wound dressing. | 102 | 82.9 | 19 | 15.4 | 2 | 1.6 |
| 18 | I prioritize the non-infected area during dressing. | 120 | 97.6 | 2 | 1.6 | 1 | 0.8 |
| 19 | Gloves should be changed from the contaminated body area to a clean area while using gloves in the same patient. | 120 | 97.6 | 2 | 1.6 | 1 | 0.8 |
| 20 | SSI could present as fever, pain, discharge, redness, and tenderness in the patient. | 120 | 97.6 | 2 | 1.6 | 1 | 0.8 |
| 21 | At each shift, I monitor the surgical wound dressing for signs of infection. | 119 | 96.7 | 1 | 0.8 | 3 | 2.4 |
| 22 | I provide training on SSI starting from the patient’s hospitalization. | 116 | 94.3 | 4 | 3.3 | 3 | 2.4 |
| 23 | I inform the physician and take culture from the wound site under aseptic conditions when there is a discharge from the wound site. | 116 | 94.3 | 4 | 3.3 | 3 | 2.4 |
Comparison of the differences between the optimal timing of preoperative hair removal variable and levels of knowledge_
| Item | Optimal timing | P | χ2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A, n (%) | B, n (%) | |||
| It is acceptable not to remove hair if it does not impede the visual field in the surgical incision area. | 0.001* | 13.749 | ||
| Yes | 35 (38.5) | 20 (62.5) | ||
| No | 54 (59.3) | 8 (25) | ||
| I do not know | 2 (2.2) | 4 (12.5) | ||
| If preoperative hair removal is to be performed, immediately before the incision is the optimal time. | 0.268 | 2.63 | ||
| Yes | 30 (33) | 11 (34.4) | ||
| No | 53 (58.2) | 15 (46.9) | ||
| I do not know | 8 (8.8) | 6 (18.8) | ||
| If preoperative hair removal is to be performed, using a razor is the best method. | 0.187 | 3.352 | ||
| Yes | 31 (34.1) | 6 (18.8) | ||
| No | 41 (45.1) | 20 (62.5) | ||
| I do not know | 19 (20.9) | 6 (18.8) | ||
| If preoperative hair removal is to be performed, using depilatory cream is the best method. | 0.003* | 11.383 | ||
| Yes | 24 (26.4) | 19 (59.4) | ||
| No | 44 (48.4) | 9 (28.1) | ||
| I do not know | 23 (25.3) | 4 (12.5) | ||
| If preoperative hair removal is to be performed, using an electric shaver (clipper) is the best method. | 0.000* | 20.677 | ||
| Yes | 44 (48.4) | 30 (93.8) | ||
| No | 21 (23.1) | 0 (0) | ||
| I do not know | 26 (28.6) | 2 (6.3) | ||
Distribution of nurses’ demographic and professional characteristics (N = 123)_
| Variables | N | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | ||
| 19–20 | 4 | 3.3 |
| 21–30 | 49 | 39.8 |
| 31–40 | 33 | 26.8 |
| ≥41 | 37 | 30.0 |
| Gender | ||
| Male | 39 | 31.7 |
| Female | 84 | 68.3 |
| Education level | ||
| High school | 13 | 10.6 |
| Associate degree | 18 | 14.6 |
| Undergraduate degree | 81 | 65.9 |
| Postgraduate degree | 11 | 8.9 |
| Duration of working in the profession (years) | ||
| 0–10 | 62 | 50.4 |
| 11–20 | 42 | 34.1 |
| ≥21 | 19 | 15.4 |
| Having received training on SSI | ||
| Yes | 88 | 71.5 |
| No | 34 | 27.6 |
Comparison of levels of knowledge with the variable of the person performing preoperative hair removal_
| Item | Person to perform preoperative hair removal | P | χ2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse, n (%) | Patient/patient relative, n (%) | |||
| It is acceptable not to remove hair if it does not impede the visual field in the surgical incision area. | 0.032* | 6.882 | ||
| Yes | 22 (61.1) | 33 (37.9) | ||
| No | 14 (38.9) | 48 (55.2) | ||
| I do not know | 0 (0.0) | 6 (6.9) | ||
| If preoperative hair removal is to be performed, immediately before the incision is the optimal time. | 0.42 | 1.733 | ||
| Yes | 15 (41.7) | 26 (29.9) | ||
| No | 18 (50.0) | 50 (57.5) | ||
| I do not know | 3 (8.3) | 11 (12.6) | ||
| If preoperative hair removal is to be performed, using a razor is the best method. | 0.083 | 4.966 | ||
| Yes | 30.6 (22.0) | 29.9 (39.0) | ||
| No | 61.1 (3.0) | 44.8 (22.0) | ||
| I do not know | 8.3 (30.6) | 25.3 (29.9) | ||
| If preoperative hair removal is to be performed, using depilatory cream is the best method. | 0.1 | 4.599 | ||
| Yes | 12 (33.3) | 31 (35.6) | ||
| No | 20 (55.6) | 33 (37.9) | ||
| I do not know | 4 (11.1) | 23 (26.4) | ||
| If preoperative hair removal is to be performed, using an electric shaver (clipper) is the best method. | 0.040* | 6.46 | ||
| Yes | 22 (61.1) | 52 (59.8) | ||
| No | 10 (27.8) | 11 (12.6) | ||
| I do not know | 4 (11.1) | 24 (27.6) | ||