Effectiveness of Educational Program on Knowledge and Practice of Tracheostomy Care Among Nurses at a Private Hospital

Background: Tracheostomy care is a critical component of intensive care nursing, yet persistent knowledge and practice gaps among nurses contribute to suboptimal patient outcomes and increased complication rates. Addressing these gaps through targeted educational interventions is essential to improving the quality of care and patient safety in high-acuity settings. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a structured educational program on enhancing the knowledge and practice of tracheostomy care among ICU nurses at a private hospital, with the expectation of measurable improvements in clinical competency and adherence to best practices. Methods: This quasi-experimental pre- and post-test study was conducted among ICU nurses (n = 35) at a private hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Eligible participants included registered nurses and nursing students assigned to the ICU, while physicians and patients were excluded. Data were collected using a validated knowledge questionnaire and observational checklist before and after a focused educational intervention. Ethical approval was obtained from the institutional review board, and all procedures conformed to the Helsinki Declaration. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, employing paired t-tests and subgroup analyses to assess changes in knowledge and practice, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The intervention resulted in a significant increase in mean knowledge scores from 47.15 ± 8.02 pre-intervention to 66.62 ± 6.53 post-intervention (mean difference = 19.47; 95% CI: 17.21–21.73; p < 0.001), with marked improvements across domains such as infection control (+80.0%), stoma care (+74.3%), and emergency management (+65.7%). Effect sizes were large, demonstrating robust clinical and statistical impact. Conclusion: The structured educational program was highly effective in bridging knowledge and practice gaps in tracheostomy care among ICU nurses, supporting the integration of ongoing, evidence-based training as a standard element of hospital policy to optimize patient outcomes and promote clinical excellence in intensive care settings.