Inadvertent Hypothermia in the Perspective of Operating Room Nurses: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study

Purpose: The aim of the study was to reveal the awareness and perceptions of operating room nurses concerning inadvertent hypothermia, as well as their experiences and recommendations for its prevention. Design: The study employed a phenomenological qualitative approach. Methods: This study was conducted with 17 nurses working in the operating room of a university hospital in Konya, Turkey. Data were collected face to face between 15 August and 30 September 2022 using the in-depth individual interview method. The data were subjected to inductive content analysis. Written permission was obtained from the hospital, the ethics committee, and the participants to conduct the study. Findings: The mean age of the nurses was 28.4 years and the majority were female. The nurses were graduates of a four-year health vocational high school, a two-year nursing associate degree program, or a four-year nursing bachelors’ degree program. Their operating room experience ranged from 1 to 22 years. All the nurses were aware of inadvertent hypothermia, and all but one encountered hypothermia and applied preventive measures. The data analysis revealed 263 codes, 12 categories, and 4 themes on the awareness and perceptions of operating room nurses about inadvertent hypothermia and their experiences and recommendations for its prevention. Conclusions: The findings showed that the majority of the participants were aware of inadvertent hypothermia and its risk factors, and frequently encountered inadvertent hypothermia despite implementing preventive measures.