Research report: Knowledge and associated factors related to stoma care among surgical nurses in Sri Lanka

A descriptive cross-sectional study summarized in the research abstract found that stoma-care knowledge was generally high among 317 surgical nurses from three teaching hospitals in Sri Lanka, but the results also identified areas for improvement. The mean knowledge score was 73.27 ± 13.79. The researchers classified 53.9% of participants as having high knowledge, 40.4% as having moderate knowledge and 5.7% as having poor knowledge.

Participants were selected through simple random sampling, and data were collected using a researcher-developed, self-administered questionnaire. Knowledge was categorized as high, moderate or poor. The investigators examined associations between knowledge levels and demographic and professional characteristics using chi-square and Fisher’s tests.

Age was significantly associated with knowledge levels (p = 0.006). Participation in in-service programs (p = 0.042), availability of ward guidelines (p = 0.006) and reading scientific literature (p = 0.014) were also associated with knowledge. No significant associations were reported for gender, education level or professional experience.

These findings represent measured statistical associations and do not show that any of the associated factors caused the differences in knowledge. The available evidence comes from the abstract of a descriptive, cross-sectional study and is limited to 317 nurses at three teaching hospitals. The design did not measure changes in knowledge over time or establish whether training, guidelines or literature reading produced higher scores.

The abstract did not report whether the significant factors were independently associated in a multivariable analysis, nor did it provide details about the questionnaire’s content, response rate or full statistical model. The evidence also did not assess whether knowledge translated into clinical practice or affected patient outcomes. The authors proposed structured training and access to updated guidelines as targeted interventions, but these were recommendations rather than evaluated interventions or demonstrated improvements.

Subject of Research: Stoma-care knowledge and associated factors among surgical nurses in Sri Lanka

Article Title: Knowledge and associated factors related to stoma care among surgical nurses in Sri Lanka

Article References: Madushan De Silva, D. K., Tharushi Uthpala, U. H., Hirun Udasara Dharmarathne, E. A., Dona Sandushani Kaushalya, K. A., & Asurakkody, T. A. (2026). Knowledge and associated factors related to stoma care among surgical nurses in Sri Lanka. BMC Health Services Research. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-026-15661-1

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12913-026-15661-1

Keywords: stoma care, surgical nursing, Sri Lanka, nurses, cross-sectional study, knowledge levels, in-service training, ward guidelines, scientific literature, Knowledge, associated, factors