Influence of Certified Perioperative Nurses on the Establishment of Preoperative Outpatient and Rate of Preoperative Assessment in Japan

This study aimed to investigate the influence of certified perioperative nurses on preoperative outpatient and preoperative assessments. The study was conducted from February 2021 to September 2022; data were collected and analyzed using a questionnaire at 247 hospitals in Japan. To analyze the factors affecting the rate of preoperative assessment with the primary endpoint of preoperative outpatient and preoperative visits, we performed multiple linear regression analysis of facility characteristics, perioperative nurse background, and the presence or absence of certified perioperative nurses. Patients from 68 and 41 institutions in the enrolled and non-enrolled groups, respectively, underwent a preoperative assessment; the enrolled group underwent a significantly higher number of preoperative assessments than did the non-enrolled group. The preoperative assessment rate was significantly higher in the enrolled group than in the non-enrolled group. Multivariate analysis of factors influencing the preoperative assessment rate revealed a significant association with certified perioperative nurse attendance. Facilities with certified perioperative nurses have a significantly higher prevalence of preoperative outpatient visits and significantly higher rates of preoperative assessments than facilities without certified perioperative nurses. Enrollment of certified perioperative nurses will lead to the improvement of the quality of preoperative nursing interventions.