An Educational Program to Improve Nursing Staff Attitudes Toward Preventing Urinary Tract Infection Associated with Catheters at Kirkuk City/Iraq

Background: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are among the most common healthcare-associated infections worldwide, contributing to prolonged hospital stays, increased patient discomfort, higher healthcare costs, and elevated mortality rates.Objective: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of an educational program in improving the attitudes of nursing staff toward preventing CAUTIs.Methods: A pre-experimental, one-group pre-post-test design was used, involving 54 nurses from respiratory, coronary, and intensive care units at Kirkuk General Hospital. Data were gathered between December 2022 and February 2023 using a structured questionnaire divided into two sections: a socio-demographic profile and a nursing attitudes assessment. SPSS version 22 was utilized for statistical analysis.Results: The educational intervention significantly improved nurses' attitudes towards CAUTI prevention, as indicated by a statistically significant difference between pre-and post-intervention scores (p = 0.001). However, no significant relationship was found between the nurses' attitudes and their socio-demographic variables.Conclusion: Regular training programs based on CDC guidelines are essential to improve nursing staff attitudes toward CAUTI prevention, leading to better patient outcomes.