Factors influencing performance of healthcare environmental surface disinfection guidelines among clinical nurses in Korea: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify factors influencing nurses' performance of environmental surface disinfection guidelines in healthcare settings, with a focus on the perceived importance of the guidelines, evidence-based practice (EBP) beliefs, and organizational readiness for EBP. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 135 nurses working at a tertiary hospital and a general hospital. Data were collected from September 8 to September 30, 2024. RESULTS: Performance of environmental surface disinfection guidelines differed significantly according to workplace (t = 2.60, p = .011) and length of experience in the current department (F = 5.64, p = .001). Nurses working in tertiary hospitals showed higher performance than those working in general hospitals, and nurses with more than 5 years of experience in their current department showed higher performance than those with less experience. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the perceived importance of the guidelines was the strongest predictor of performance (β = .53, p < .001), followed by organizational readiness for EBP (β = .22, p = .002) and EBP beliefs (β = .18, p = .012). The model explained 58.0% of the variance in performance (F = 59.31, p < .001, R2 = .58). CONCLUSION: Nurses' performance of environmental surface disinfection guidelines is influenced by both individual and organizational factors, particularly the perceived importance of the guidelines, EBP beliefs, and organizational readiness for EBP. Strategies to improve performance should therefore emphasize increasing nurses' awareness of guideline importance, fostering positive EBP beliefs, and enhancing organizational readiness.