A pre-experimental study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge and practices of nursing personnel working in critical care units regarding the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in a selected hospital in New Delhi. This study was undertaken in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Master of Science in Nursing degree.
The objectives were:
1. To develop and implement a planned teaching program on VAP prevention.
2. To assess the effectiveness of the program in improving the knowledge and practices of nursing personnel.
3. To identify the association between pre-test knowledge and practice scores with selected demographic variables.
4. To determine the relationship between knowledge and practice scores before the intervention.
A quantitative research approach with a one-group pretest-posttest design was adopted. The sample consisted of 40 nursing personnel selected through purposive sampling. A structured knowledge questionnaire comprising 45 items and a practice checklist were administered to assess the participants’ knowledge and practices regarding VAP prevention. The tool covered definitions, etiology, risk factors, types, diagnosis, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and preventive measures.
The study was conducted from 20th December 2018 to 9th January 2019 in the critical care units of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, after obtaining formal administrative permission. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Key findings include:
– 72.5% of the participants were female, with the majority (55%) aged 31–40 years.
– 50% held a GNM qualification, while 32.5% were B.Sc. Nursing graduates.
– 45% had 6–10 years of clinical experience.
– The mean post-test knowledge score (39.32) was significantly higher than the pre-test score (24.68), with a ‘t’ value of 22.07 at the 0.05 level of significance.
– The mean post-test practice score (35.47) also showed significant improvement from the pre-test score (23.57), with a ‘t’ value of 21.88 at the 0.05 significance level.
Statistically significant associations were found between pre-test knowledge scores and demographic variables such as age, work experience, in-service training, and prior experience in caring for VAP patients. Similarly, pre-test practice scores were significantly associated with age (χ² = 14.935, p < 0.05). No significant associations were observed with other demographic variables.
Furthermore, a positive correlation (r = 0.5807) was found between knowledge and practice scores before the intervention, indicating that improved knowledge was linked to better practices.
Conclusion:
The planned teaching program was found to be effective in enhancing both the knowledge and practice of nursing personnel regarding the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia. These findings underscore the importance of continuous education and training to improve patient care in critical care settings.
July 11, 2025
