Factors influencing peripheral intravenous catheter practice of nurses in small and medium sized hospitals

Background Small and medium-sized hospitals, which account for 60% of the nursing workforce across all healthcare institutions, play a crucial role in enhancing peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) practices. This study aimed to identify the extent to which the PIVC practice knowledge of nurses, the nursing working environment, and the patient safety-culture perception affect PIVC practices and thereby provide basic data for improving the PIVC practices in small and medium-sized hospitals. Methods This study had a descriptive research design to identify the factors affecting PIVC nursing practices in small and medium-sized hospitals. Questionnaires returned by 149 nurses collected data on general characteristics, practical knowledge of PIVC nursing, nursing working environment, patient safety-culture perception, and PIVC practices. The questionnaire data were analysed using descriptive statistics, the independent t -test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffé’s test, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression. Results The mean score for PIVC practices was 4.60. The level of PIVC practices was significantly correlated with the practical knowledge of PIVC nursing and the patient safety-culture perception. Length of clinical experience, practical knowledge of PIVC nursing and patient safety-culture perception were significant factors affecting the PIVC practices, with these variables explaining 26.2% of the variance therein. Conclusions The PIVC practices of nurses in small and medium-sized hospitals can be improved by providing education and training based on the latest scientific evidence to facilitate the acquisition of knowledge and skills, and to establish and spread a continuous institutional safety-culture perception and thereby strengthen patient safety-culture perception .