Purpose
This study aimed to identify factors related to nurses’ preparedness to care for patients with highly infectious diseases in long-term care hospitals based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Methods: The participants were 226 nurses from 10 long-term care hospitals located in a metropolitan city in Korea. Core components of the TPB, organizational culture for infection control, nursing practice environment, and preparedness to care for patients with highly infectious diseases were measured using a structured online self-report questionnaire. Data were collected from October 25 to December 26, 2021 and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. Results: The mean score of preparedness to care for patients with highly infectious diseases was 4.99±1.90 out of 10. The perceived behavioral control (β=.37, p<.001), control beliefs (β=.24, p<.001), attitude toward behavior (β=.18, p=.001), behavioral belief (β=.12, p=.035), and nursing practice environment (β=.12, p=.023) significantly predicted the nursing staff’s preparedness to care for these patients (Adj. R ² =.62). Conclusion: Theory-based interventions are needed to enhance the confidence of nurses in caring for the patients with highly infectious diseases and to improve their attitude and beliefs regarding positive outcomes in caring for these patients. High quality teamwork and support of resources are necessary to increase the preparedness to care for patients with highly infectious diseases in the nursing practice environment in long-term care hospitals.

Citations

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• Effects of case-based confusion assessment methods for intensive care unit training on delirium knowledge and delirium assessment accuracy of intensive care units: A quasi-experimental study
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  Nurse Education Today.2021; 103: 104954.     CrossRef