title: Nurses' perceptions of standardised assessment and prevention of complications in an ICU.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe nurses' perceptions of evidence-based recommendations to prevent complications in a Malaysian intensive care unit.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Ventilator-associated pneumonia, catheter-related blood stream infection and pressure ulcer are three frequent adverse events in the intensive care unit. Implementing evidenced-based practice is critical in prevention of these complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative focus group study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus groups were conducted with nurses in the intensive care unit of a regional hospital in Malaysia following evidence-based interventions. Focus group transcripts were analysed using the method of thematic analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-four nurses participated in eight focus groups. The main themes derived from the interviews: (1) nurses' knowledge impacts on the change process; (2) initial resistance, ambivalence and movement to acceptance; and (3) hierarchical organisational structure can hinder the change process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enhancing nurses' knowledge and attitudes of evidence-based practice, providing them with tools to monitor their clinical practice, and empowering them to change practice are likely to be important in influencing clinical outcomes. Increasing the emphasis on evidence-based practice in nursing curricula and engaging in cultural change processes in the workplace are necessary to improve clinical outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings provide valuable information for implementing clinical practice improvement interventions.
authors: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Medicine, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. kim@medic.upm.edu.my
authors: Kim Lam
authors: KL
authors: Soh
authors: Patricia M
authors: PM
authors: Davidson
authors: Gavin
authors: G
authors: Leslie
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: DiGiacomo
authors: Kim Geok
authors: KG
authors: Soh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008296:Malaysia; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000517:prevention & control*