BACKGROUND/AIMS

To investigate the knowledge among nurses who work in critical care units on the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and their barriers of adherence to preventive measures.

MATERIAL and METHODS

The study was performed using descriptive cross-sectional design in two hospitals in Jordan, which included 185 critical care nurses. The data were collected between June-July 2017. The questionnaire was covered 30 questions related to knowledge of VAP prevention as well as eight statements about barriers of adherence to VAP prevention guidelines. Data were evaluated using descriptive statistics, Kruskal–Wallis test, and Mann–Whitney U tests.

RESULTS

The findings of the present study revealed that nurses’ overall mean of knowledge on VAP prevention were adequate level (19.6 6 3.43 out of 30) with low-level knowledge regarding prevention strategies of VAP. Lack of equipment’s (65.9%), forgetting to practice the sterile techniques (54.1%), and lack of time to deliver proper infection control (53.0%) were the main barriers mentioned by Jordanian critical care nurses of VAP prevention. Nurse’s with high experience and master degree showed significantly better knowledge of VAP prevention than their other groups.

CONCLUSION

Achieving an adequate knowledge of VAP prevention is an important feature for reinforcing patient care outcomes. The results of this study highlighted to necessity of creating new strategies for improving knowledge of critical care nurses and removing their barriers regarding VAP prevention.

Keywords: Critical care nurses, intensive care unit, ventilator associated pneumonia, ventilator bundle