title: Factors influencing intensive care nurses' knowledge and attitudes regarding ventilator-associated pneumonia and oral care practice in intubated patients in Croatia.
abstract: Adequate oral care in intubated patients may reduce occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia. The purpose of this study was to explore knowledge, attitudes, and oral care practice in Croatian intensive care units and influencing factors. Nurses' knowledge is insufficient; however, most of them reported positive attitude toward the importance of oral care. Performed oral hygiene measures are mostly inappropriate. There is a need to improve the knowledge of ventilator-associated pneumonia and oral care.
authors.affiliation: Private Dental Practice, Novalja, Croatia. Electronic address: ante.jordan@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ante
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Badovinac
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Stjepan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spalj
authors.affiliation: Private Dental Practice, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Matej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Par
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Slaj
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Darije
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Plančak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D017523:Croatia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000379:methods*; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: Attitudes; Croatia; Intensive care; Knowledge; Nurses; Oral care; Ventilator-associated pneumonia