Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify knowledge and the Need of pathophysiology, perceived connectivity between knowledge of pathophysiology and clinical practice, and confidence and satisfaction with clinical performance by applying the knowledge to clinical practice, and to analyze the correlation between the knowledge, perceived connectivity, and confidence and satisfaction of clinical nurses. Methods: Subjects consisted of 149 clinical nurses who work at 7 general hospitals and 6 university hospitals located in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi province in Korea. Those who learned pathophysiology during their undergraduate program were recruited by using a convenient sampling. The data were collected between April 23 and May 24 in 2012. Participants responded to self-administered questionnaires about knowledge and the need of pathophysiology, and the perceived connectivity between knowledge and clinical practice, and confidence and satisfaction with clinical performance by applying knowledge to clinical practice. Results: Mean scores of knowledge and the need of pathophysiology were $2.88{\pm}0.34$ and $2.33{\pm}0.39$ each. Scores of knowledge and the need of 3 units such as fluid and electrolyte imbalance, acid-base imbalance, and alterations in the respiratory system were high among 23 units while that of adolescent disorders was the lowest. The mean score of perceived connectivity between knowledge and clinical practice was $7.32{\pm}1.57$, and those of confidence and satisfaction with clinical performance by applying the knowledge to clinical practice were $7.66{\pm}1.66$ and $7.42{\pm}1.67$ respectively. Knowledge of pathophysiology was positively correlated with the perceived connectivity between knowledge and clinical practice, and confidence, and satisfaction with clinical performance. Conclusion: The results indicate that knowledge and the need of pathophysiology in clinical nurses is above average, and that knowledge of pathophysiology is important in promoting perceived connectivity with clinical practice and increasing confidence and satisfaction with clinical performance by applying knowledge to clinical practice.