Knowledge and attitudes of nursing professionals regarding oral hygiene in critically ill patients

Objective: to compare the knowledge and attitudes of nursing professionals working in public and private hospitals on oral hygiene in critically ill patients. Method: a cross-sectional study carried out in two adult Intensive Care Units, one public and the other one private, between the period of December 2018 and January 2019, using a structured and self-administered questionnaire. Results: the knowledge rate of professionals in the public hospital was 76.6% and the attitude was 62.7%, while in the private hospital, these rates were 81.8% and 67.1%, respectively. There were significant differences regarding the existence of a protocol (p 0.006), participation in training (p 0.004), and the use of a toothbrush with soft bristles and suction (p 0.001) in the private hospital. Conclusion: the knowledge level was higher, and the attitudes toward oral hygiene were more positive among nursing professionals at the private hospital compared to the professionals at the public hospital.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-SA

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