Email this article 
Hide
Show all
Original Research
Improving nurses’ knowledge of managing endotracheal tube cuff pressure in intensive care units: A quasi-experimental study
Submitted: 06 May 2020 | Published: 18 December 2020
About the author(s)
Ferestas Mpasa, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Department of Nursing and Midwifery Science, Mzuzu University, Luwinga, MalawiDalena van Rooyen, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Danie Venter, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Portia Jordan, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa; and, Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
Wilma ten Ham-Baloyi, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Abstract
Background: Previous studies conducted on nurses’ knowledge regarding endotracheal tube cuff pressure revealed that there were differences in intensive care nurses’ knowledge, leading to varying practices.
Aim: This study aimed to evaluate how an educational intervention based on the existing evidence-based guidelines, using both passive and active implementation strategies, could improve the knowledge of nurses regarding managing endotracheal tube cuff pressures in Malawian intensive care units.
Setting: Six functional ICUs (four public and two private) in Malawi.
Methods: The study followed a quasi-experimental, pre- and post-test design using an educational intervention. Intensive care nurses of six functional intensive care units in Malawi were randomly assigned to two intervention groups. Both groups received a half-day educational session, a printed version of the evidence-based guidelines, a printed and laminated summary of the guidelines and a related algorithm. Additionally, Intervention 2 group received four monitoring visits. Pre- and post-test questionnaires were conducted between February and August 2016. Descriptive and inferential data analyses (a chi-square test and t-test) were utilised.
Results: An improvement in knowledge was observed on the nursing care practices for the management of endotracheal tube cuff pressure for both groups following the educational intervention, although only the results comparing Intervention 2 group participants indicate that the level of knowledge was significant (t[df = 48] = 2.08, p = 0.043, d = 0.59).
Conclusion: Implementation of a formal training and mentorship programme for Malawian intensive care nurses would be of great benefit to enhance the knowledge and skills managing endotracheal tube cuff pressure. Follow-up studies would also assist in understanding how guidelines could be implemented most effectively to achieve better knowledge outcomes.
Keywords
Metrics
Total abstract views: 2802Total article views: 3055