Effectiveness of an educational intervention on intensive care nurses' knowledge and practice of endotracheal...

Endotracheal tube (ETT) suctioning is a critical nursing procedure essential for airway management in mechanically ventilated patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). Proper suctioning practices help reduce complications, including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). However, evidence suggests that ICU nurses' knowledge and practices regarding ETT suctioning remain suboptimal. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an educational intervention on ICU nurses' knowledge and practices regarding ETT suctioning.

A quasi-experimental single-group pretest-posttest study was conducted in the intensive care units (ICUs) of three public sector tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar, Pakistan. Eligible ICU nurses who met the inclusion criteria and consented to participate were recruited using convenience sampling (n = 60). Knowledge and practice were assessed before and after the educational intervention using a structured knowledge questionnaire and an observational practice checklist.

Nurses' knowledge scores improved significantly following the intervention (pre-intervention: 6.57 ± 1.79 vs. post-intervention: 10.23 ± 1.68; mean difference = 3.66; p < 0.001), with a very large effect size (Cohen's d = 2.12). Practice scores also increased significantly from 12.65 ± 1.83 to 16.38 ± 1.43 (mean difference = 3.73; p < 0.001), corresponding to a very large effect size (Cohen's d = 2.27).

The educational intervention was associated with substantial improvements in ICU nurses' knowledge and practices regarding endotracheal suctioning. However, because this study employed a single-group pretest-posttest design without a control group, the findings should be interpreted with caution, as causal relationships cannot be established. Regular in-service education is recommended to maintain competency and promote adherence to evidence-based endotracheal suctioning practices.

Not applicable.