1080 - Understanding Organizational Impact of Education on Knowledge and Clinical Outcomes

Overview/Abstract: In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, perioperative services at a 306-bed tertiary care hospital in Southeast Missouri experienced a significant decline in ongoing, evidence-based educational opportunities for both new and existing staff. To address this gap, a three-phase quality improvement (QI) project was implemented to enhance foundational surgical knowledge and improve clinical outcomes through targeted education. Utilizing evidence-based content from the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN), the project aimed to increase staff knowledge from baseline and an overall aim to improve clinical quality through a reduce surgical site infections (SSIs).

Phase I involved a baseline assessment of staff knowledge and current SSI rates. Phase II introduced a structured educational curriculum grounded in AORN guidelines, delivered through interactive modules, competency-based evaluations. Phase III focused on post-education assessment, measuring knowledge gains and tracking changes in clinical outcomes, particularly SSI incidence.

Preliminary findings indicate a measurable improvement in staff knowledge and a downward trend in SSIs, suggesting a positive correlation between structured education and clinical care delivery. This project highlights the critical role of continuous, evidence-based education in maintaining high standards of perioperative care and supports the integration of structured learning as a sustainable strategy for quality improvement in surgical services.