Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Mechanical Ventilation Boot Camp Curriculum
Published on: March 12, 2018
Effect of Short Messages on ICU Nurses' Knowledge and Performance Regarding Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
Farideh Danaee1, Leili Rostamnia2, Parvin Abbasi2
1Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), Kermanshah, Iran.
Background:
Various teaching methods have been used to train healthcare staff in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) prevention. Despite the positive results of blended learning in increasing nurses' knowledge and performance, there is a lack of robust, generalisable evidence on the medium- or long-term effectiveness of text messages as part of educational packages and microlearning on the sustainability of these outcomes.
Aim:
This study aims to examine the effectiveness of two teaching methods-lecture-based and blended (lecture plus text messages)-on nurses' knowledge and performance in VAP prevention in Kermanshah.
Study Design:
Sixty Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses participated in a training session, randomly divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received educational messages containing key points from the training session every other day for 2 weeks; the control group did not receive messages. Knowledge and performance were measured before and after using a validated questionnaire to assess changes.
Results:
The intervention and control groups each had 30 participants. Most nurses were women (n = 40, 66%), over half were over 30 years old (n = 28, 53%) and a significant proportion had less than 10 years of experience (n = 52, 86%). At pre-test, the mean knowledge scores were 21.1 ± 2.9 (intervention) and 20.2 ± 2.9 (control), with performance scores of 120.8 ± 10.4 and 120.1 ± 13.4, respectively. In post-test, the intervention group showed statistically significant improvements in knowledge (20.2 ± 1.5 vs. 22.1 ± 1.9; p < 0.001), performance (126.9 ± 8.2 vs. 120.8 ± 9.7; p < 0.02).
Conclusions:
Ongoing short message service (SMS) reminders improved nurses' knowledge and performance in VAP prevention.
Relevance To Clinical Practice:
This study demonstrates that a low-cost, affordable educational programme based on continuous repetition with brief content (short reminder short message service [SMS]) can significantly improve intensive care unit (ICU) nurses' knowledge and adherence to ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) prevention measures. Implementing such simple, concise interventions within continuing clinical education programmes can sustainably reinforce infection prevention behaviours and, in resource-limited settings, lead to improved clinical outcomes and reduced care costs.
Related Concept Videos
Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed.
Mechanical Ventilation III: Noninvasive Ventilation
Noninvasive Positive-Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV)
Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
Factors Affecting Pulmonary Ventilation
Alveolar Surface Tension
The alveolar fluid lines the luminal surface of the alveoli and exerts a force called surface tension. This force is caused by the polar water molecules in the liquid being more strongly attracted to each...
Mechanical Ventilation II: Invasive Ventilation
Negative-Pressure Ventilators
Negative-pressure ventilators create a vacuum around the chest or body to draw air into the lungs, simulating breathing. This method does not require an...
Acute Respiratory Failure-I
Definition: It is defined by specific criteria based on blood gas measurements. Hypoxemia happens when the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) falls below 60 mmHg. At the same time,...