Multicenter Survey on Staff Understanding of Preoperative Fasting Guidelines

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nursing
• Patient Safety
• Surgical Care

Background:

• Pediatric preoperative fasting is critical for patient safety but often misunderstood.
• Gaps in nursing staff knowledge can lead to complications and suboptimal patient experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate nursing staff knowledge of pediatric preoperative fasting protocols.
• To compare knowledge levels between a tertiary pediatric center and a general hospital.

Main Methods:

• A prospective quantitative study utilizing anonymous electronic surveys.
• Nine modified questions were administered to nursing staff at two different hospital settings.

Main Results:

• Over 295 participants from a tertiary center and 24 from a general hospital responded.
• While most answered questions correctly, specific knowledge gaps existed regarding fasting times for older infants and clear fluid identification.
• For example, 20.7% at the tertiary center incorrectly identified jelly as a clear fluid.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric preoperative fasting knowledge among nursing staff requires enhancement.
• Despite access to guidelines, understanding can be improved, highlighting the need for ongoing education.
• Education is vital for minimizing morbidity and improving the preoperative patient experience.