Assessment of Knowledge, Practices and Associated Factors of Nurses on Blood Sample Collection at Two Health Care Centers in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Accurate blood collection is crucial for reliable diagnostic and effective patient care. This study assesses nurses’ knowledge, practices and associated factors influencing venous blood collection at Teaching Hospital, Anuradapura and base hospital Rikillagaskada. A cross sectional study was conducted among 407 nurses, with knowledge and practice levels categorized as 75% or greater was considered good, 50% to 74% as moderate and less than 50% as poor knowledge or practices. Data were collected using pre-tested, self administered questionnaire with analysis performed in SPSS version 22.0, using chi square tests to assess associations between demographic variables, training and experience from June to December 2023, considering p<0.05 as statistically significant. The majority were female (90.7%, n=369), with 37.8% (n=154) aged 30-39 years. Most participants were from Teaching Hospital, Anuradaphura (79.6%), while 20.4% were from Rikillagaskada. Findings revealed 57% of nurses had moderate knowledge, while 43% exhibited poor knowledge. ICU nurses (p<0.001) and those with less than five years of phlebotomy experience (p=0.017) demonstrated significantly better knowledge levels. Nurses from Rikillagaskada outperformed those from Anuradaphura in knowledge (p<0.001) and practice (p<0.001), highlighting possible regional disparities in training quality. In terms of practice, 56.8% demonstrated moderate adherence to protocols, while 43.2% had poor practice compliance. ICU nurses (p=0.007) and those with 5-10 years of phlebotomy experience (p=0.027) exhibited significantly better practice adherence. Although workshop participation was associated with higher knowledge and practice levels, the statistical significance remained limited. These findings highlight critical gaps, reinforcing the need for structured training programs to improve compliance with best practices.