Nurses’ Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) Scoring in the Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Critical care nurses play a crucial role in evaluating the dynamic conditions of critically ill patients. Variations in patient conditions require nurses to have adequate knowledge and appropriate attitudes in clinical decision-making to provide optimal nursing care. The use of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score as a mortality prediction tool in the ICU requires a sound understanding to ensure accurate and consistent clinical assessment. This study aimed to examine the relationship between nurses’ knowledge and attitudes in performing APACHE II assessments in the ICU. A cross-sectional design was employed with a total sampling technique involving 35 ICU nurses at a central hospital in Jakarta. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed using the chi-square test. The results showed a p-value > 0.05, indicating no significant relationship between nurses’ knowledge and attitudes in conducting APACHE II assessments in the ICU. These findings suggest that nurses’ level of knowledge does not necessarily align with their attitudes toward APACHE II assessment. Hospitals are recommended to enhance continuous training and standardize procedures for APACHE II implementation in the ICU. Future studies are encouraged to explore other influencing factors, such as work experience, ICU training, and workload, using larger sample sizes.