Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Oral Care of Critically Ill Child by Intensive Care Nurses at Pediatric Critical Care Unit

Abstract Background: Oral care is a critical aspect of nursing for critically ill children in Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU). Poor oral hygiene in intubated patients can lead to complications such as biofilm buildup, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and impacting patient outcomes. An effective oral care programmed influence overall good intensive care outcome and influenced by several factors regarding the understating, belief and importance of good oral environment. Assessing nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards oral hygiene is vital to identify gaps and enhance training efforts for optimal patient care. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 80 nurse sat National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute, Mirpur, Dhaka who were working in Pediatric cardiac ICU. The data were collected from November 2023 to December 2023. Results: This study examines the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of intensive care nurses regarding oral care for critically ill children in a Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (PCICU). The mean age of nurses was 25.43±2.83 years, with most aged 25-29 and having an average nursing experience of 3.44±2.84 years but most of them have less experience in PICU. Although 95% recognized oral care as essential, knowledge gaps were noted, particularly about oral biofilm (35%) and VAP (70%). Barriers to care included patient non-cooperation (61.3%), intubation (45%), and limited staff (27.5%). While 71.3% used forceps and gauze, and 83.8% used normal saline, more than 50% of nurses expressed a need for biannual training to improve care delivery. The findings underscore the need for regular training to address barriers and improve oral care quality in PCICU settings. Conclusion: The study provided useful findings regarding oral hygiene knowledge, thought and practices of nurses caring for critically ill patients. The study highlights gaps in oral care knowledge, attitudes, and practices among intensive care nurses, emphasizing the need for regular training.