title: Critical care nurses' knowledge in preventing nosocomial pneumonia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to identify knowledge deficits concerning nosocomial pneumonia (NP) prevention among critical care nurses. The study also determined whether NP knowledge was associated with nurse characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey design using a mailed self-administered questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  New Zealand critical care nurses were identified through the Nursing Council of New Zealand.
  
  
  METHODS
  134 critical care nurses.
  
  
  METHODS
  NP prevention knowledge score (the proportion of 24 items answered correctly).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The NP knowledge score ranged from 21% to 92%. The mean (and median) was 48%. Items related to knowledge about NP risks had the highest mean score (67%) compared to items addressing NP prevention (43%) or the role of devices in the transmission of NP (45%). No nurse demographic or workplace characteristic was associated with NP knowledge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several important deficits in nosocomial pneumonia knowledge were identified indicating a need for critical care nurses to have greater exposure to nosocomial pneumonia prevention education, guidelines, and research.
authors.affiliation: University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia. kim@medic.upm.edu.my
authors.forename: Kim Lam
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Soh
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koziol-Mclain
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Kim Geok
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Soh
mesh_terms: D003422:Critical Care; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D009729:Nursing; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires