Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of oxygen therapy among emergency nurses

This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding oxygen therapy among emergency nurses in Sichuan Province, China. From November to December 2023, data were collected from 410 qualified emergency nurses (response rate: 63.08%) across 15 tertiary hospitals using a validated, self-developed questionnaire. Participants were predominantly female (83.9%), with mean scores of 16.74 ± 8.44 (range 0-26) for knowledge, 23.85 ± 1.73 (range 5-25) for attitude, and 55.29 ± 5.26 (range 12-60) for practice. Scores exceeding 70% in each domain were considered satisfactory. Notable knowledge gaps emerged regarding two critical aspects: 21.95% of respondents expressed uncertainty about oxygen administration in myocardial infarction patients with SpO₂ > 93% without respiratory distress, while 14.88% demonstrated unclear understanding of Venturi mask applications for hypercapnic patients. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis demonstrated good model fit (CMIN/DF = 3.323, RMSEA = 0.075, IFI = 0.881, TLI = 0.870, CFI = 0.881). The results of the model revealed significant direct effects: knowledge positively influenced attitude (β = 0.184, p < 0.001), which in turn directly affected practice (β = 0.024, p < 0.001). The findings indicate that while Sichuan's emergency nurses maintain positive attitudes and proactive practices regarding oxygen therapy, significant knowledge deficiencies persist. These results emphasize the critical need for ongoing education and training programs to enhance nurses' knowledge and skills pertaining to oxygen therapy protocols, ultimately improving patient care outcomes.