Prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia. A knowledge survey among intensive care nurses in Yemen

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate knowledge of nurses working in Yemen intensive care units (ICUs) on evidence-based strategies for preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and to determine if there is any association between certain nurses’ as well as workplaces’ characteristics and the knowledge scores of nurses.

METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out in 37 ICUs of 23 hospitals in Sana’a city, Yemen. A self-administered multiple-choice questionnaire listing 15 evidence-based preventive strategies was distributed to all nurses and collected between December 2012 and February 2013. The results were analyzed and tabulated using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 17.

RESULTS: Three hundred and eighty-seven questionnaires were collected (response rate 75.4%). The nurses were most frequently correct (>60%) regarding regular oral care, semi-recumbent position, preventing unplanned extubation, emptying of condensate from ventilator tubing, daily sedation interruption and assessment of readiness for weaning, and endotracheal tubes with extra lumen for subglottic secretions drainage. Nurses had the least knowledge (<24%) regarding frequency of humidifier and suction systems changes, use of kinetic beds, and oral route for tracheal intubation. The nurses' knowledge mean total score was 47.3% (7.1 on 15 items). Holding a bachelor degree in nursing and acquisition of short course in respiratory therapy were shown to be associated with better knowledge scores.

CONCLUSION: Knowledge of evidence-based strategies for preventing VAP is low among most nurses working in Yemen ICUs.