Self-reported comfort with tracheostomy tube care. Cross-sectional survey of non-ear, nose and throat health care professionals

OBJECTIVE: To assess self-reported comfort of non-ear, nose and throat (ENT) health professionals in tracheostomy care and identify its associated factors.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey of non-ENT health care professionals, carried out from December 2011 to February 2013 at the Prince Sultan Military Medical City, and King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on self-rated comfort levels in performing tracheostomy tube change and factors, such as speciality, duration of dedicated ENT rotation in medical school, and years of experience as a practicing consultant.

RESULTS: A total of 71 non-ENT health professionals participated in the survey. The response rate was 100%. Overall, one out of every 4 participants (26.8%) rated their comfort level in tracheostomy tube change as ‘fair or poor’, 38% as good, and only 35.2% as excellent. Comfort level was the highest among anesthesiologists (94.1%), and intensivists (78.9%). In the multivariate analysis, physicians who reported ever performing tracheostomy tube change as a resident were significantly more likely to report comfort than their counterparts without such exposure (adjusted odds ratio: 7.09; 95% confidence interval: 1.90-26.40; p=0.003). When asked if there should be a mandatory course on tracheostomy care in tertiary care hospitals, most of the participants (60-72%), irrespective of their speciality, training and experience, replied in the affirmative.

CONCLUSION: Non-ENT health professionals involved in airway care had a low level of self-rated comfort with tracheostomy tube care suggesting the need for periodic refresher training to address this gap.