title: Does the presence of oral care guidelines affect oral care delivery by intensive care unit nurses? A survey of Saudi intensive care unit nurses.
abstract: Mechanically ventilated patients rely on nurses for their oral care needs, signifying the importance of nurses in intensive care units (ICUs). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of oral care guidelines on the oral care delivered to mechanically ventilated patients by ICU nurses. A total of 215 nurses were enrolled. Demographic data and oral care practices were recorded through a self-administered survey. Participants governed by oral care guidelines had significantly higher oral care practice scores than their counterparts from ICUs without similar guidelines (P = .034; t = 2.13). Oral care guidelines in ICUs can contribute to reduction of morbidity and mortality caused by ventilator-associated pneumonia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: atb.otb@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ahmed K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Alotaibi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alshayiqi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Sundar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramalingam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016638:Critical Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Critically ill; Dental hygiene; Nosocomial infection; Nursing practice; Ventilator-associated pneumonia