Abstract
Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a serious hospital-acquired infection that increases morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs among mechanically ventilated patients. Nurses play a pivotal role in VAP prevention; therefore, adequate awareness of evidence-based preventive measures is essential.
Materials & Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Jinnah Hospital Lahore from February to June 2025. A total of 109 registered nurses were selected through random sampling. Data were collected using a structured, validated questionnaire assessing awareness of VAP prevention. Responses were scored and categorized as poor (≤60%) or good (>60%) awareness. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27.0 with descriptive statistics.
Results: Most participants were female (67.9%) and aged 25–28 years. Overall, 62.39% of nurses demonstrated a good level of awareness, while 37.61% showed poor awareness. Knowledge gaps were identified in areas such as head-of-bed elevation, hand hygiene, oral care frequency, and subglottic secretion drainage.
Conclusion: Although most nurses had adequate awareness of VAP prevention, significant gaps persist, highlighting the need for targeted educational interventions.