# Latent profile analysis of knowledge, attitude and practice of hospital infection prevention and control among haemodialysis nurses in Sichuan, China: a multicenter study

## TL;DR

This study analyzed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of hemodialysis nurses in China regarding hospital infection prevention and found two distinct groups with varying levels of preparedness.

## Contribution

The study identifies distinct KAP profiles among hemodialysis nurses and provides evidence-based recommendations for improving infection control management.

## Key findings

- Two distinct KAP groups were identified: 'Low KAP Group' (25.9%) and 'High KAP Group' (74.1%).
- Factors like training frequency, organizational support, and work engagement significantly influence KAP levels.
- Overall KAP scores among hemodialysis nurses were relatively high, but targeted improvements are recommended.

## Abstract

Hemodialysis, as one of the main alternative treatment methods for end-stage renal disease, has received much attention in recent years. Due to the particularity of hemodialysis treatment, patients have a relatively high risk of infection during the treatment process. Hemodialysis nurses, who are the main executors of the treatment operations and have the most contact with patients, have a close relationship with the infection risk of patients. The level of their hospital infection prevention and control literacy is closely related to the infection risk of patients.

To explore the current level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of hospital infection prevention and control among haemodialysis nurses in the Sichuan Province, China, and identified their potential categories. This provided evidence-based recommendations for improving infection control management in hemodialysis departments.

A cross-sectional study was conducted From July 15 to August 15, 2025 using a convenience sampling method to survey 470 hemodialysis nurses from 78 hospitals in Sichuan Province. Participants were licensed nurses with over 3 months of hemodialysis experience. Data were collected using the General Information Questionnaire, the Haemodialysis Nurses’ KAP Questionnaire on Hospital Infection Prevention and Control (48 items), the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale-9 (UWES-9) (9 items), and the Organizational Support Scale (12 items). Rigorous online data quality control measures were implemented, including IP duplication checks and response time validation. The latent potential profile (LPA) was used to analyze the current level of KAP of hospital infection prevention and control among haemodialysis nurses, and binary Logistic analysis was employed to identify the influencing factors.

A total of 460 valid questionnaires were collected, with an effective response rate of 97.87%. The average scores for knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to hospital infection prevention and control among haemodialysis nurses were 4.67 ± 0.43, 4.59 ± 0.43, and 4.74 ± 0.34, respectively. Three latent profile models were constructed, with the two-class model identified as the optimal solution, which were defined as the “Low KAP Group” (25.9%) and “High KAP Group” (74.1%). Logistic regression analysis revealed that sex, responsibility for infection control, hospital level, annual number of infection control training sessions, organizational support, and work engagement were significant influencing factors (p <0.05).

The KAP level of haemodialysis nurses in hospital infection prevention and control was relatively high. Hospital managers should tailor supportive work environments on the basis of the individual characteristics and work engagement of haemodialysis nurses to improve the KAP level of nosocomial infection prevention and control among haemodialysis nurses.