Oral care for intubated patients: a survey of intensive care unit nurses

Abstract

Recommendations were made for providing standard oral care protocols for intubated patients and oral care training programs for ICU nurses to support delivery of quality patient care.

Influence of dentistry professionals and oral health assistance protocols on intensive care unit nursing staff. A survey study

“…Oral rinses are frequently used, probably because of the recommendation from various ventilator associated pneumonia prevention bundles. (1,13-15) The great variability in the use of toothbrushes and toothpaste is in alignment with previous studies. (2,10,12) …”

Survey of oral nursing care attitudes, knowledge and practices in a neurorehabilitation setting

“…Compared to most previous ICU surveys, a considerably higher percentage indicated insufficient time allocated for oral hygiene in the current survey (40%). This is in line with a recent multicenter study demonstrating that oral care was the most frequently missed hygienic activity in hospitals across 12 countries .…”

“…Patients with ABI usually have physical impairment, lack of motor co‐ordination and the cognitive deficits, which become important barriers to the practice of routine oral hygiene, especially with complications like dysphagia . However, compared to previous surveys among ICU nurses, the percentage finding it difficult to clean the oral cavity (41%) was lower in the current survey. This could be due to the fact that ICU patients are more vulnerable and thereby it becomes more difficult to maintain oral hygiene.…”

“…As in previous surveys among ICU nurses, only few respondents believed that there were other more important tasks to be taken care of rather than oral care (12%), indicating that the majority of respondents believed that oral care is an important issue.…”

“…The survey was a 59‐item questionnaire prepared by two nurse leaders responsible for oral care, researchers with dental and nursing background, and a neurologist at HNRC. The questionnaire was adapted and modified from the 21‐item questionnaire by Binkley et al This questionnaire has been used in several studies to assess ICU nurses attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge on oral care, oral care training, and hospital supplies, equipment, and time. The questionnaire uses response options based on a 5‐point Likert scale ("strongly agree," "somewhat agree," "neither agree nor disagree," "somewhat disagree," "strongly disagree").…”