Correlation between knowledge-skill and the importance of physical assessments in nurses: A descriptive correlational study

Patients’ assessment is fundamental to nursing practice and the more precise assessment nurses can perform, the better outcomes patients can achieve. Better practice requires suitable knowledge, skills and attitude regarding the importance of physical assessment. This study aimed to determine correlation between knowledge-skill and the importance of physical assessment in nurses employed in hospitals.
Methods & Materials: In this descriptive correlational study, 300 nurses employed in the medical, surgical, ICU and CCU wards of hospitals affiliated to Kerman University of medical sciences, were chosen conveniently in 2016. The data collecting instrument included demographic data, knowledge-skill and the importance of physical assessment items. Data were analyzed by the SPSS software version 19 using correlation coefficient test, linear regression and ANOVA.
The mean score of knowledge-skill was 3.14(±0.74) and the median (mode) score of importance was 4(0.52). There was a significant and positive correlation between knowledge-skill and the importance of physical assessment. The nurses had higher knowledge-skill scores for those skills that they had considered more important. The most effective variable on the correlation between knowledge-skill and importance was education.
Nurses’ self-assessment of their skills in performing physical assessment was at a low level but they considered all skills important. Effective educational programs can fulfill the nurses’ needs for physical assessment skills.