Effect of Interventional Protocol for Oropharyngeal Irrigation on Prevention of Ventilator-associated Pneumonia among Intubated Patients Admitted in ICU of Selected Hospital

Abstract

Oral care is too forgotten in the physiological crises of critical illness. The problems developing from their time in intensive care unit (ICU) can cause long-term oral and nosocomial disease. Maintaining oral hygiene in critically ill patients is a key nursing obligation, and the health of a patient's mouth can
be an indicator of the quality of nursing care received. The critical care nurses can contribute the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), or there by helps to reduce the health care costs. Knowing the VAP or risk factor can help nurses be more prepared when dealing with an issue. The preventive device should be used in conjunction with the patient's everyday nursing care. And a vital nurse role in the patient minimising and preventing VAP, so improving the patients' recovery rate and, as a result, lowering healthcare expenses. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of oral care intervention on the occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia. The quasi experimental two group pre- and post-test interventional design was selected for the study with a sample size 40 of both groups. In this study, nonprobability purposive sampling method was used, patient selected both groups with help of envelope methods. In experimental group, the mean score of post-tests (22.5) and in control
group mean score of post-tests was (62.5). Unpaired “t” test value for this present study was 2.20930 with 38 degrees of freedom. Tabulated t value 2.0301 with 38 degrees of freedom. So, the null hypothesis was rejected at 0.05 level of significant and alternative hypothesis was accepted at 0.05 level of
significant. The study finding revealed that the use of intervention protocol for incubated patients is more effective than the hospital existing protocol. Unpaired “t” test value was 2.2093 with 38 degrees of freedom. Tabulated t value 2.0301 with 38 degrees of freedom.