Which statement indicates a need for further instruction regarding venous thromboembolism (VTE) risks?

The statement indicating a need for further instruction regarding venous thromboembolism (VTE) risks is that surgery lasting at least 1 hour can cause VTE. While it is true that the risk of VTE increases with surgical procedures, the statement oversimplifies the relationship between surgery duration and VTE occurrence. The risk of VTE is not solely determined by the length of the surgery; rather, it is influenced by multiple factors such as the type of surgery, the patient's underlying risk factors, postoperative immobility, and the presence of other risk factors like obesity or cancer.

In contrast, smoking is well-established as a modifiable risk factor that significantly increases the risk of VTE. VTE being a leading cause of post-surgical morbidity and mortality highlights the importance of awareness and preventative measures. Additionally, it is accurate that long surgeries are associated with higher VTE risks due to prolonged immobility and vascular injury. Therefore, understanding the multifaceted nature of VTE risks is crucial, and the specific statement about surgery lasting at least 1 hour necessitates further clarification and understanding of the broader context.