Effectiveness of Promoting the Clinical Nursing Guidelines for Prevention of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) in Medical Intensive Care Unit 3, Lamphun Hospital

Abstract

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the leading problem of infections in hospitals and patients on mechanical ventilation. This quasi - experimental research aims to evaluate the knowledge and skills of nurses in nursing practice before and after the promotion of the promoting of the Guidelines and compare the incidence of VAP in patients with internal medicine critical care before and after the promoting of the Guidelines. The sample group was 16 nurses. Patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit 3 of Lamphun Hospital between February 1 to March 31, 2025 were divided into 2 groups. 40 cases per group.The tools for conducting the research include clinical nursing guidelines for prevention of VAP. The data collection tools include the patient personal data record form, the nurse personal data record form, the Incidence record form for VAP and the nurse knowledge and practice assessment form. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviations and inferential statistics include: Fisher’s exact probability test, Independent Samples Test and Paired Samples t-test

The results of the study showed that after promoting the use of the Guidelines, Nurses had an increase in average knowledge score from 12.62 (SD=3.22) to 17.62 (SD=2.18). (Score out of 20) statistically significant. (p<0.05). The overall correct nursing skills for the prevention of VAP increased from 85.0% to 97.0% statistically significant (P< 0.05). The mean number of days intubated decreased from 5.32 to 3.02 statistically significant (P< 0.05). There was no rate of VAP. In conclusion, the promotion of the use of the guidelines helps to improve the knowledge and skills of nurses, reduce the incidence of VAP and shorten the duration of use the mechanical ventilation.