The intraoperative standard care training program for transplanted organs: A quality improvement study to enhance knowledge and self-efficacy of operating room nurses

Introduction : Organ transplantation, a critical intervention for end-stage organ failure, relies on precise intraoperative care by operating room personnel to ensure organ viability. In Iran, despite significant transplant activity, knowledge and self-efficacy gaps among surgical staff persist, risking complications. This study evaluated the effect of a training program on the knowledge and self-efficacy of intraoperative nurses in the standard preservation of transplantable organs. Materials and methods A quasi-experimental, single-group pre-test post-test design was conducted at Al-Zahra and Khorshid hospitals in Isfahan, Iran, from July to October 2024. Forty-nine surgical technologists and nurses participated in two one-hour educational sessions covering general and organ-specific preservation care standards for kidney and liver. Knowledge was assessed via a 20-item multiple-choice test, and self-efficacy was evaluated via a 12-item Likert-scale questionnaire. Data were collected at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and after one-month follow-up, and analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and Friedman tests (p < 0.05). Results Participants showed significant knowledge improvement, with mean scores rising from 4.91 ± 2.09 (24.55%) pre-intervention to 16.36 ± 1.67 (81.7%) post-intervention (p < 0.001), and slightly declining to 16.06 ± 1.77 (80.3%) at after one month follow up (p = 0.001). Self-efficacy scores increased from 31.65 ± 11.35 (moderate) to 52.85 ± 4.55 (strong) post-intervention (p < 0.001), with a minor reduction to 52.57 ± 4.63 at follow-up (p = 0.01). Conclusion Standardized training significantly enhanced operating room personnel’s knowledge and self-efficacy, with sustained effects at one month. These findings highlight the value of structured education in improving clinical competence and confidence, potentially optimizing patient outcomes in transplant surgery.