Assessment of ICU Nurses’ Knowledge and Identifying Barriers in Preventing Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Adult ICUs: A Study at the National Hospital, Kandy

Critical care services are costly, and the patients with indications for prolonged intubation are highly vulnerable to Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP), which prolongs their hospital stay and raises the cost of treatment. In Southeast Asia, the prevalence of VAP ranges between 16.2% to 74.2%, with the mortality rate of 30 %. This study aimed to assess Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses’ knowledge of VAP and identify the barriers in VAP prevention at the settings of adult ICUs in National Hospital Kandy. A descriptive crossctional approach was used, and data were collected from 132 nurses working in different Intensive Care Units from July 24 to July 30, 2023. Knowledge and practices regarding VAP prevention were identified through a structured self-administered questionnaire. Results indicated that a significant number of nurses (73.48%) possessed good knowledge on VAP bundle and 25% were aware of radiological changes related to VAP. Additionally, poor knowledge regarding cleaning and the changing frequency of ventilator circuits were identified among nurses, as 13.64% and 1.32% were knowledgeable in those areas respectively. Most ICU nurses adhered to the established infection control practices (86.36%), while some barriers were identified, including low visitor’s adherence to infection control, inadequate staffing and the absence of laminar airflow in ICUs. Despite the challenges all the ICU nurses expressed willingness to engage in VAP preventive strategies, and 93.2% of them were seeking further education. In conclusion the findings from this study emphasize the need for training and improved support for VAP prevention in ICUs. Keywords: Ventilator Associated Pneumonia; Intensive Care Unit; Critical Care Nursing; Barriers