Importance and Performance of Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines for Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism Among Orthopedic Hospital Nurses

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the perceived importance and performance of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (EBCPG) for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention among nurses in orthopedic hospitals. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 188 nurses in three orthopedic hospitals in South Korea. Participants rated the importance and performance of 110 EBCPG for VTE prevention items across 10 domains using a 5-point Likert scale. Importance-performance analysis was utilized to identify gaps and prioritize areas for improvement. Results: The mean importance and performance scores for EBCPG for VTE prevention were 4.02 and 3.67, respectively, revealing a statistically significant gap (t = 10.67, p < .001). Differences were observed across domains, with “General interventions for VTE prevention” showing the highest scores for both importance and performance, while “VTE prevention for cancer patients” and “VTE prevention for surgical patients” exhibited the largest gaps. Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for targeted strategies to bridge the gap between the perceived importance and performance of EBCPG for VTE prevention, particularly in domains with significant performance deficiencies. Tailored education and institutional support are recommended to enhance guideline utilization and improve patient outcomes in orthopedic hospitals.