ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Med.
Sec. Healthcare Professions Education
The actual experiences of nurses' in implementing hypothermia prevention practices during post-anesthesia care unit :a qualitative study based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED model
Provisionally accepted
- 1Department of Nursing, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
- 2Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
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Abstract Background Hypothermia is one of the most common postoperative complications in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), and preventive measures are crucial for improving patient outcomes. Anesthesia nurses play a vital role in the prevention and management of hypothermia, but the factors influencing their behavior have not yet been systematically explored. Objective This study aimed to explore the actual experiences of the implementation in hypothermia prevention measures by PACU nurses in anesthesia recovery rooms, providing a basis for the formulation of management plans. Methods A descriptive qualitative rooms of one general hospital in Guizhou Province, China. Data analysis was performed using directed content analysis. Results Three major categories emerged, corresponding to the predisposing,reinforcing,and enabling factors outlined by the PRECEDE-PROCEED model. Predisposing factors included knowledge gaps on hypothermia,complexity of evidence-to-practice translation,conflicts between mindset and habitual practices.Enabling factors included insufficient human and equipment resources,lack of targeted and continuous training,lack of standardized guidelines for hypothermia prevention management processes,limitations in hospital information systems and lack of intelligent monitoring functions.Reinforcing factors included healthcare collaboration and peer support promote hypothermia prevention practices,lack of supervisory network for hypothermia prevention. Conclusions To enhance hypothermia prevention practices in PACU, nursing administrators should implement need-based multidisciplinary training programs, optimize staffing, equipment resources, develop intelligent decision-support systems, and establish digitalized monitoring networks to support continuous quality improvement.
Keywords: Post-anesthesia care, Hypothermia prevention practices, Nurse, Actual experiences Qualitative research, PRECEDE-PROCEED model
Received: 27 Aug 2025; Accepted: 20 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Zou, Luo and Li. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Jie Zou, 1043351563@qq.com
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