Knowledge of ICU Nurses Toward Prevention of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia at Public Hospitals in Sana’a, City-Yemen

Abstract

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia is defined as a type of pneumonia in a patient receiving mechanical ventilation that was not present at the time of admission to hospital or that occurs 48 hours after intubation and mechanical ventilation. Aim: To determine the knowledge of ICUs nurses on prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia at public hospitals in Sana'a city. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among ICU nurses at public hospitals in Sana'a City-Yemen. The sample size was determined using EpiCalc, 2000. A stratified random sampling was applied to select the sample from 4 major public hospitals. Data were collected using questionnaire, 87 nurses were tested for knowledge. Data were coded and entered into SPSS version 21 for descriptive and inferential statistics. Information letters, consent form were obtained. Results: 54% of the nurses were females, (50.6%) were married with mean age ± SD, 28.4±4.2 year. About 55.2% of the nurses had working experience from 1-3 years. About two thirds (65.5 %) of the nurses had a diploma degree, (51.7%) had courses training in ICU and (81.6%) had no training program on the prevention of VAP. (57.5%) of ICU nurses had moderate knowledge regarding prevention of VAP, (36.8%) had poor knowledge and (5.7%) had good knowledge. Insignificant relationship between knowledge toward prevention VAP and ICU training, gender and years of working experience (Pvalue>0.05). A significant relationship between knowledge toward prevention VAP and level of education was found (P-value=0.001). Conclusion: ICU nurses’ knowledge of VAP prevention was inadequate. Increasing knowledge of intensive care unit nursing staff through the courses training include VAP prevention, workshops and curriculum are recommended.