Intensive Care Nurses' Awareness, Attitudes and Practices Related to Eye Care

Patients admitted to the intensive care unit are at risk of ocular complications. Therefore, nurses should have enough knowledge, a positive attitude and appropriate practices to assess and diagnose ocular disorders among ICU patients correctly.

To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of ICU nurses about eye care and the associated factors.

In this analytical cross-sectional study, the data collection tool consisted of a two-part questionnaire: demographic details and a 35-item assessment of knowledge, attitudes and performance in eye care, covering these three domains. Data were analysed in SPSS version 23 using the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

A total of 244 nurses were enrolled using a census sampling method. The results indicated that the knowledge scores of the nurses were below the average (7 ± 2.8), attitude within the desirable range (31.3 ± 3.3) and practice scores above the average (41.6 ± 6.1). There is a significant positive correlation of the nurses' practice scores with attitude scores (r = 0.477, p ≤ 0.001) and not with knowledge scores (p = 0.665). Positive attitudes (r = 0.885, p ≤ 0.001), the presence of eye care protocols in ICUs (r = 2.204, p = 0.002) and completion of eye care training courses (r = 2.219, p = 0.023) positively influenced the nurses' practice scores.

To address gaps in nurses' knowledge, attitudes and performance regarding eye care, our findings support implementing targeted educational interventions (e.g., simulation-based training) and adopting evidence-based protocols in intensive care units.

Strengthening ICU nurses' awareness and skills in eye care through standardized training and evidence-based protocols can improve patient safety and care quality. Integrating eye care into routine nursing education supports consistent best practice in intensive care settings.