# Perception, knowledge, and influencing factors of acute skin failure among critical care medical staff: a multicenter, cross-sectional study

## TL;DR

This study found that critical care medical staff in China have significant gaps in their knowledge of acute skin failure, with nurses more knowledgeable than physicians.

## Contribution

The study identifies job category and years of experience as key factors influencing knowledge of acute skin failure among critical care staff.

## Key findings

- 60.5% of participants showed insufficient knowledge of acute skin failure.
- Physicians were significantly less knowledgeable than nurses about ASF.
- Staff with more than 10 years of experience were less knowledgeable than junior staff.

## Abstract

This study aimed to assess the knowledge level of acute skin failure (ASF) among critical care medical staff and to identify the factors influencing this knowledge.

A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted in the intensive care units of four tertiary hospitals in Xiamen, China. A total of 481 physicians and nurses completed a validated, self-designed questionnaire assessing knowledge across eight domains of ASF.

The survey revealed a significant knowledge gap, with 60.5% (291/481) of participants demonstrating insufficient knowledge of ASF. Furthermore, 56.1% of respondents could not accurately differentiate ASF from pressure injuries. Multivariate logistic regression identified job category and years of experience as independent predictors of knowledge level. Physicians were significantly less knowledgeable than nurses (OR = 2.888, p = 0.017). Contrary to expectations, staff with more than 10 years of experience were less knowledgeable than their junior counterparts.

Variations in familiarity with ASF concepts exist among critical care staff, reflecting differences in professional training frameworks, clinical responsibilities, and exposure patterns. The observed differences between physicians and nurses likely represent systematic variations in clinical focus and role-specific knowledge acquisition rather than absolute knowledge deficits. These findings highlight the need for interprofessional educational strategies that respect professional boundaries while fostering collaborative recognition of ASF as a shared clinical concern.