Nurses’ Knowledge based on Evidence Based Practice toward Eye Care for Intensive Care Units Patients

Abstract

Background: Eye care in intensive care units is crucial to avoid eye problems associated with infections, use

of medications, effect of mechanical ventilators, and patient position. Indeed, there is no specific guideline

or protocols use in eye care in Iraqi intensive care units, so the study focused on nurses to assess their

knowledge regarding evidence-based practice toward eye care.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess nurses’ knowledge regarding evidence-based practice

toward eye care in intensive care units, and to find out relationships between their demographics and total

knowledge.

Method: A descriptive study using a purposive sample (non-probability) was used to survey 30 nurses who

met the sampling criteria in two teaching hospitals in the south of Iraq to assess their knowledge regarding

eye care. A valid and reliable tool was used after getting the permission from the copyright holder.

Results: More than one-third of study sample were (22-26) years old they account (40%). Majority of them

were male (56.7%), and (53.3%) of the study sample had bachelor’s degree in nursing. Regarding years of

experience half of the study sample had more than five years of experience in intensive care units. Majority

of the study sample (63.3%) has no participation in training courses about eye care and (83.3%) was day

shift of work. The total mean of score of nurses’ knowledge was poor (0.33).

Conclusion: There is a need to conduct training courses for nurses who work in intensive care units about

eye care based on standard as the results in this study indicated that there is a significance association

between, nurses’ knowledge and participation in training course, about eye care.