Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of ICU nurses regarding daily sedation interruption: a cross-sectional study

Appropriate analgesia and sedation are essential in intensive care units (ICU). Daily sedation interruption (DSI) minimizes sedation and maximizes patient care by interrupting or reducing sedative infusion.

This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of intensive care unit nurses regarding daily sedation interruption and to identify factors associated with its implementation in clinical practice.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among ICU nurses from five general hospitals in Sichuan Province, China, from July 29, 2024, to August 20, 2024, using convenience sampling. The nurses completed a self-designed online questionnaire on the DSI that included three dimensions: knowledge, attitude, and practical behavior. This study followed the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) guidelines for reporting cross-sectional studies.

In total, 343 valid questionnaires were collected, with a recovery rate of 95.3%. The DSI knowledge score of ICU nurses was 4 (2-4) points, with a scoring rate of 40%. The DSI attitude score of ICU nurses was 37 (31-40) points, with a scoring rate of 92.5%. Forty-two percent (144) of nurses had received DSI training, and 2.6% (9) of nurses had never implemented DSI. The most commonly used sedation assessment tool was the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) (80.8%). The most common impediment to DSI implementation was increased incidence of self-removal of tracheal tubes and other catheters (71.4%). There were significant differences in DSI knowledge among nurses by age, gender, professional title, education level, and years working in the ICU (p < 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the attitudes of ICU nurses toward DSI by age, professional title, educational level, and years of work in the ICU (p < 0.05).

DSI knowledge among ICU nurses is insufficient, recognition is high, and practice behaviors need to be strengthened. ICU nurses need more training and guidance in the knowledge and practice of DSI.