Abstract
The aim was to map the barriers faced by nursing staff in their professional practice regarding adherence to preventive measures for surgical site infections. This study is a scoping review of 15 studies retrieved on February 14, 2023, from databases and grey literature: MEDLINE via PubMed; LILACS/BDENF/SciELO via BVS; SCOPUS; EMBASE; and CINAHL via EBSCO. It was registered on the Open Science Framework (osf.io/325nk). The scoping review enabled the identification and understanding of eight barriers to adherence to best practices by the nursing team: insufficient knowledge regarding recommended measures and practices; workplace environment and interpersonal relationships; lack of institutional guidelines; low motivation for behavioral and cultural change; limited professional experience; absence of feedback and supervision of professional practice; scarcity of supplies; and the non-existence of surgical site infection assessment systems. The findings indicate a need for strategies to enhance knowledge and provide updates regarding preventive measures, their implementation, and their consolidation into the clinical practice of surgical nursing teams to promote a culture of safety and reduce surgical site infections.
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