A Survey Study of Oral Care Given by Nurses in Intensive Care Units

Abstract

Purpose: The study aims to analyze whether having a specialty certification (SC) among intensive care unit (ICU) nurses is associated with their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding oral care and related complications during hospitalization. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 188 ICU nurses in Eskisehir, Turkey, between April and June 2021. A 20-item questionnaire was used to assess demographic data, knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding oral care. Chi-square tests (p = 0.05) were used to analyze relationships. Results: A highly significant proportion of nurses having SC were satisfied with the level of oral hygiene instructions they had received, X2 = 12.29, d.f. = 1, n = 188, p < 0.001, and the factor of awareness of its benefits associated with SC education, X2 = 6.55, d.f. = 1, p = 0.010. Nurses who spend less time on oral hygiene performed less oral examinations, X2 = 16.73, d.f. = 4, p = 0.002, and there was an inverse relationship between the number of ICU patients per nurse and the time spent on oral care per patient, X2 = 33.24, d.f. = 8, p < 0.001. The majority of nurses carried out oral care for 2–5 minutes per patient daily (n = 72, 38.29%). SC nurses preferred manual toothbrush with toothpaste over foam stick or sodium carbonate, X2 = 4.16, d.f. = 1, p = 0.04. Regardless of the specialization, a highly significant relationship was observed between the duration of oral care and the experience of nurse in ICU, d.f. = 4, p < 0.001. Conclusion: Having SC significantly affects ICU nurses’ ability and willingness to prioritize oral care to improve patients’ oral hygiene.