Abstract

Objective: This study was planned with the aim of assessing the level of nurses' knowledge about risk factors for venous thromboembolism and preventive interventions.

Method: This study is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The research was conducted at a private hospital and an educational research hospital affiliated to a foundation university in Istanbul. The sample composed of 111 nurses working in the departments of the hospitals. The data were obtained with the questionnaires prepared by the researchers.

Results: The average age of the sample was 25.26±4.30 and 60.4% completed undergraduate degree. Only 31.5% of the nurses reported that they received in-service training on thromboembolic therapy, preventive interventions for thromboembolism, and prophylaxis. The average scores for the Venous Thromboembolism Assessment Form indicated that the level of knowledge among nurses about venous thromboembolic risk factors was the lowest, the level of knowledge about non-pharmacological interventions, venous thromboembolism pharmacological interventions, nursing interventions and patient education was the moderate level.

Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that nurses need to improve their knowledge of non-pharmacological protective interventions for the development of venous thromboembolism. In this context, internship training programs on venous thromboembolic risk factors and preventive interventions should be given to nurses in intermittent periods.