Investigation of Correct Application of Ventilators‘ Humidifier Systems Before and After Nursing Education in Intensive Care Units

Abstract

Provision of inspiratory humidity in patients connected to ventilator prevents drying and increasing the density of airway secretions, airway obstruction and following complications. Nursing stuff plays an important role at the correct application of ventilator's humidifiers. In this study we evaluate the effect of nursing education on the correct application of ventilator's humidifiers in intensive care units. This research was done as a randomized double blind study at two stages: At first step, 327 connected ventilators to patient were investigated according to the presence of humidifier, distilled water in the humidifier's container, connection tubes, connectors and connection of humidifier system to inspiratory arm. Then nursing education was done for correct application of ventilator's humidifiers in intensive care units, without previous information about research proposal. At second step, after the nursing education, all stages similar to first step were repeated and the data were recorded in questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS software, Chi-square and fisher tests. According to analysis of data statically, before and after nursing education: The %91.40 and %82.60 of ventilators had humidifier system, respectively, which the reduction was statically significant (P= 0.001). The %49.80 and % 65.20 of humidifier systems had connectors and connective tubes, which the increase was statically significant (P= 0.00). The %39.10 and %47.80 of humidifiers had distilled water in their containers, respectively, which was statically significant (P= 0.04). Active and connected ventilators to patient that had humidifier system, connective tubes connected to inspiratory arm and humidifier's container with distilled water simultaneously were formed %26.60 and %23.50 of ventilators, the difference was not statically significant (P= 0.37). Nursing education for proper and complete usage of humidifiers in patients under ventilators had a few effect that could be caused by: the lack of the supply of humidifier system, the high amount of duties, the personnel shortages, the low motivation of nurses, the lack of personnel attention to the learning and employing their own knowledge and the lack of the knowledge of nurses about the research.