Accuracy of Anatomical Knowledge in the Assessment of Peripheral Arterial Disease by Vascular Nurses in University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital

Peripheral arterial disease is a chronic occlusive vascular condition predominantly affecting the lower limb arteries that leads to intermittent claudication, critical limb ischaemia, and amputation risk. Clinical assessment of peripheral arterial disease by vascular nurses includes pulse palpation, ankle-brachial index measurement, and inspection of limb perfusion, all of which require a sound understanding of lower limb arterial anatomy, including the course of the femoral, popliteal, and tibial vessels. This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of anatomical knowledge applied in peripheral arterial disease assessment among vascular nursing staff at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. A validated anatomy knowledge questionnaire combined with a direct clinical observation using a structured competency checklist will be used to assess 70 vascular nurses. Performance will be correlated with educational qualification, postgraduate vascular training, and years in vascular nursing. The study anticipates producing an evidence-based profile of arterial anatomy knowledge gaps in vascular nursing practice in North Central Nigeria and recommending targeted vascular anatomy modules for integration into postgraduate nursing education.

Keywords: peripheral arterial disease, vascular nursing, lower limb anatomy, Ilorin, ankle-brachial index