HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS' KNOWLEDGE LEVEL REGARDING FORENSİC CASES IN THE INTENSIVE CARE AND OPERATING ROOM

Purpose: This study aims to assess the knowledge and practices of healthcare professionals in operating rooms and intensive care units regarding forensic cases. Material and Methods: A descriptive comparative design study was conducted, involving healthcare professionals from a university hospital in the Eastern Black Sea Region between March 17 and May 1, 2023 (n=116). Data were collected through a questionnaire developed by the researchers, and analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, variance analysis, and correlation analysis. Results: Participants had a mean age of 30.6 +/- 7.7 years, with 56% working in operating rooms and 56.9% being nurses. While 53.4% had received training on forensic cases, 82.8% had encountered such cases. Education significantly influenced both knowledge level (p=0.00) and application (p=0.02), with a moderate positive correlation between knowledge and application (r=0.541, p=0.000). Conclusion: The study highlights a lack of knowledge and practices among healthcare professionals in operating rooms and intensive care units regarding forensic cases.