Abstract
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a well-recognized and prophylactic disease in intensive care units (ICUs), which leads to bad patient outcome and cost to health care. Prevention of this is based on the attitudes and knowledge of the healthcare providers in ICU. Intermittent infection control policies and staff training in resource-strained environments, such as Pakistan, help to perpetuate excessive VAP. Knowledge about the awareness and views of ICU staffs is also necessary in promoting care and minimizing the infection rates. Methods: An observational study or a cross-sectional study was carried out on 109 sample size in ICU health workers like doctors, nurses, and respiratory therapists working in tertiary care hospitals across the city of Peshawar. Information was obtained with the help of a structured questionnaire and analyzed in SPSS version 25.
Objectives: To identify knowledge and beliefs of ICU healthcare provider concerning the prevention, and management of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP).
Results: Although 70.6 percent of them knew when VAP occurred, or when a patient contracted it, i.e., after 48 hours of intubation, 56 of them did not know the right frequency of oral care, and 68.8 of them did not understand that regular antibiotics use was incorporated in the VAP bundle. It is worth noting that only 54.1 percent were never trained in VAP formally. Attitudinally, 63.3% were motivated to adhere to the protocols however the support and training given by the institutions differ widely.
Conclusion: Even though ICU staff has a partial understanding of VAP, there are knowledge gaps that result to ineffective prevention as well as training lacking consistency. The organization and educational support through appropriate resources and policies will also play an important role in enhancing compliance and lowering the incidence of VAP in ICUs.