Nurse related factors associated with adherence to tracheostomy care guidelines among critical care nurses at Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

Objective: To establish nurse related factors associated with adherence to tracheostomy care guidelines among critical care nurses in Kenyatta National Hospital.

Design: Analytical cross-sectional

Setting: Kenyatta National Hospital Critical care unit

Subjects: Critical care unit nurses

Main outcome measures: Adherence level to tracheostomy care guidelines and Nurse related factors affecting adherence to tracheostomy care guidelines.

Results: A total of 79 nurses were involved in the study. The mean age of the nurses was 39.1 years. Assessment for adherence to tracheostomy care guidelines using an observational checklist revealed that 18 nurses (95% CI: 14.1% to 33.6%) adhered to the guidelines while 61 nurses (95% CI: 66.4% to 85.9%) did not. Additionally, 43(54.4%) nurses who formed a majority had positive attitude towards tracheostomy care audit. Among the nursing factors associated with adherence, knowledge of the nurses on tracheostomy care guidelines was significantly associated with adherence (OR 3.45: 95% CI: 1.03-12.11; P=0.026). Nurses who were knowledgeable on tracheostomy care guidelines were three times likely to adhere to the guidelines than those who were not.

Conclusion: Majority of the nurses did not adhere to tracheostomy care guidelines on observation. Additionally, most of the nurses had positive attitude towards the tracheostomy care guidelines and knowledge of tracheostomy care guidelines among the nurses was associated with adherence to the guidelines