Table 3.
Nurses' compliance with VAP non-drug preventive measures pre- and post-intervention phases
| Preventive measures grouped into categories | Practical competence | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Preinterv. (n = 67; %) | Postinterv. (n = 111; %) | p value | |
| 1. Procedure for the aspiration of endotracheal secretions | |||
| Hand washing before | 5·7 | 9·8 | 0·427 |
| Hand washing after | 31·9 | 34·1 | 0·807 |
| Using a sterile catheter | 99 | 97·6 | 0·699 |
| Aseptic manipulation | 97 | 95·1 | 0·581 |
| Changing the catheter for consecutive aspirations | 93 | 100·0 | 0·502 |
| Preinterv. (n = 1145; %) | Postinterv. (n = 1147; %) | p value | |
| 2. Control/reduction in gastric reflux | |||
| Smallest possible nasogastric tube | 58·3 | 72·0 | 0·001 |
| Headboard angle 30°–45° | 57·9 | 82·6 | 0·001 |
| Controlling gastric retention | 97 | 97·2 | 0·546 |
| 3. Preventing the microaspiration of subglottic secretions | |||
| Controlling the aspiration of subglottic secretions | 32·5 | 68·7 | 0·001 |
| Clearing subglottic secretions | 88·6 | 90·3 | 0·192 |
| Controlling the patency of subglottic drainage | 43·6 | 45·9 | 0·276 |
| Endotracheal tube cuff pressure between 22 and 28 mm Hg | 3·0 | 88·4 | 0·001 |
| 4. Oropharyngeal hygiene | |||
| Oral hygiene with 0·12% chlorhexidine | 6·1 | 96·3 | 0·001 |
| 5. Controlling the external fixation of the endotracheal tube | |||
| Recording the fixation number | 13·50 | 52·70 | 0·001 |