Patients' knowledge about the prevention of postoperative infections after plastic surgeries

Dear respondent,

I am Akvilė Karpinaitė, a student of the 4th year of the General Practice Nursing program at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, Kaunas College. I am writing my final bachelor’s thesis on the topic: “Patients' knowledge about the prevention of postoperative infections after plastic surgeries.” This questionnaire is anonymous, and the results of the research will be summarized and used only for study purposes. Your answers are very important to me, so I kindly ask you to fill out the questions below; it will take just a few minutes.

If you have any questions, you can contact the author of the study, Akvilė Karpinaitė, phone number 062874876, email: [email protected], or Kaunas College, Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences. Phone/fax (837)322831, email: [email protected]

Thank you for your time.

Deebiin hanga 2026-11-14 22 00 ni argama

Bu'aan abbaa qofaaf

a) Yes b) No (if you do not agree, there is no need to fill out the questionnaire further)

a) Less than 6 months.b) 6-12 months ago.c) 1-2 years ago.d) More than 2 years ago.

a) Yes b) Noc) Partiallyd) I don't remember

Very useful	Useful	Moderately useful	Slightly useful	Not useful at all	Did not receive information from this source
Plastic surgeon/ doctor

General practitioner nurse

Written recommendations provided by healthcare institutions

Websites

Social networks

Other people who had plastic surgery

Family members/ friends

a) Increasing and spreading redness around the woundb) Purulent or cloudy discharge from the woundc) Increasing pain in the operated aread) Gradually decreasing pain and swellinge) Gradual improvement in the condition of the woundf) I don’t know

a) Any increase in temperature after surgery indicates infectionb) An increase in temperature may be one of the signs of infection, but it is not enough to conclude that there is an infectionc) An increase in temperature is not related to postoperative infectiond) Infection can only be suspected if the temperature is very highe) I don’t know

a) Any redness after surgery indicates infectionb) Redness after surgery is always a normal part of healingc) Increasing or spreading redness may be one of the signs that raise suspicion of infectiond) Redness is not related to infection of the surgical wounde) I don’t know

a) Any pain after surgery indicates infectionb) Pain after surgery is never associated with infectionc) Increasing pain may be one of the signs that raise suspicion of infection, especially if there are other wound changesd) The variation of pain is not significant in assessing the wound conditione) I don’t know

a) Before and after touching the surgical wound and its dressingb) Only when hands look dirtyc) Only after touching the surgical woundd) Hand hygiene is not necessary if the wound looks goode) I don’t know

a) All surgical wounds should be regularly disinfected with antiseptic at homeb) Wound care should be performed according to the provided individual recommendationsc) The wound should be disinfected as often as possible with a selected productd) If the wound looks dry, there is no need to follow the recommendationse) The same wound care recommendations apply to all plastic surgeriesf) I don’t know

a) The care and removal of dressings/wound strips should be done according to the recommendations given to the patientb) Dressings/wound strips can be removed at one's discretion when the wound looks goodc) Dressings/wound strips should always be regularly removed to disinfect the woundd) Dressings/wound strips should be changed daily, regardless of the type of surgery or provided recommendationse) I don’t know

a) The more antiseptic means used, the lower the risk of infectionb) Wound care products should be used according to the provided recommendationsc) Any skin disinfectant can be used on a surgical woundd) The same products are suitable for all surgical woundse) I don’t know

a) Antibiotics should be started independently upon noticing any redness of the woundb) Antibiotics should be given prophylactically to all patients after plastic surgeriesc) Antibiotics should be used when prescribed by a healthcare professional according to the provided ordersd) Home-stored antibiotics can be used immediately when suspected infection developse) I don’t know

a) If the operation was performed under sterile conditions, an infection cannot develop after the operationb) The risk of postoperative infections is influenced by various patient and surgery factors, thus prevention is not limited to wound carec) Postoperative infections typically occur only due to inappropriate patient behaviord) Infection prevention is relevant only on the first day after surgerye) I don’t know

a) Independently start using any antibiotics available at homeb) Contact a healthcare specialistc) Independently select new wound care productsd) Always wait a few days and see if the signs go awaye) I don’t know

a) Care of the surgical woundb) Signs of postoperative infectionc) Risk factors for infectiond) Infection prevention measurese) Care of dressings and wound stripsf) When should I contact a healthcare specialistg) The information I have is sufficient

a) Yesb) Noc) I have no opinion

FemaleMalePrefer not to disclose

Patients' knowledge about the prevention of postoperative infections after plastic surgeries

1. Do you agree to participate in the study? (please select one answer option) ✪

2. What plastic surgery has been performed? (If more than one surgery was performed, you can select several answer options.) ✪

3. How long has passed since the plastic surgery? (please select one answer option) ✪

4. Were you given information about wound care and infection prevention before leaving for home? (please select one answer option) ✪

5. Indicate where you received information about postoperative infection prevention after plastic surgery. (multiple answer options are possible). ✪

6. How do you evaluate the usefulness of the information received from the indicated sources about postoperative infection prevention? ✪

7. Indicate how you rate your knowledge about postoperative infection prevention? (10 - you rate it excellent, 5 - satisfactory, 1 - you have no knowledge at all) ✪

8. Which changes in the surgical wound may raise suspicion of a postoperative infection? (Multiple answer options are possible.) ✪

9. Which statement about an increase in body temperature after surgery is the most accurate? (please select one answer option) ✪

10. Which statement about redness around the surgical wound is the most accurate? (please select one answer option) ✪

11. Which statement about pain in the operated area is the most accurate? (please select one answer option) ✪

12. Which of these factors can increase the risk of surgical wound infection? (Multiple answer options are possible.) ✪

13. When is it important to perform hand hygiene if you have to touch the surgical wound or its dressing? (please select one answer option) ✪

14. Which statement about the care of the surgical wound after plastic surgery is the most accurate? (please select one answer option) ✪

15. Which statement about the care of dressings or wound strips is the most accurate? (please select one answer option) ✪

16. Which statement about the use of means for surgical wounds is the most accurate? (please select one answer option) ✪

17. Which statement about antibiotic use is the most accurate? (please select one answer option) ✪

18. Which statement about the prevention of postoperative infections is the most accurate? (please select one answer option) ✪

19. What should be done upon noticing signs that raise suspicion of infection in a surgical wound? (please select one answer option) ✪

20. Indicate what information is most relevant to you and you would like to receive? (You can select several answer options). ✪

21. Do you think that patient education can help reduce the risk of postoperative infections? (please select one answer option) ✪

22. Your age? ✪

23. Your gender ✪

24. Your education (please select one answer option) ✪