Knowledge levels of intensive care nurses on prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia

Abstract

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia constitutes a significant concern for ventilated patients in the intensive care unit.

Aim: This study was planned to evaluate the knowledge of nurses working in general intensive care units concerning evidence-based measures for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Method: This study design is cross-sectional. It was carried out on nurses working in the general intensive care units of anesthiology and re-animation clinics. Collection of research data was performed by means of a Nurse Identification Form and a Form of Evidence-Based Knowledge concerning the Prevention of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia. Characterization statistics were shown by percentage, median and interquartile range. Chi-square and Wilcoxon tests and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used as appropriate.

Results: The median value of total points scored by nurses on the questionnaire was 4.00 ± 2.00. The difference between the nurses' education levels, duration of work experience and participation in in-service training programmes on ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention and the median value of their total scores on the questionnaire was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The conclusion of the study was that critical care nurses' knowledge about ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention is poor.

Keywords: Intensive care unit; Nosocomial pneumonia; Nursing; Ventilator-associated pneumonia.