title: The Effect of a Designed Respiratory Care Program on the Incidence of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: A Clinical Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a common complication of mechanical ventilation. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of designed respiratory care program on incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in the mechanically ventilated patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this clinical trial, 64 patients were selected among those who had undergone mechanical ventilation in the ICU of Al‑Zahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran, using convenience sampling method. The subjects were randomly allocated to intervention and control groups. In the intervention group an upper respiratory care program and in the control group, routine cares were done. Modified Clinical Pulmonary Infection Questionnaire was completed before and on the third, fourth and fifth day of study. Data were analyzed by Chi-square and independent t-test through SPSS Ver.13.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of this study showed that until the third day of study, the incidence of VAP was similar in the both groups. However, on the fifth day of study, the incidence of VAP in the intervention group was significantly lower than control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study showed that an upper respiratory care program reduced the incidence of VAP. Therefore, nurses are recommended to perform this program for prevention of VAP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abbasinia
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, Yazd University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Nasim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bahrami
authors.affiliation: Department of Operating Room Nursing, Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Soheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bakhtiari
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmadreza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yazdannik
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.
authors.forename: Atye
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Babaii
keywords: Airway management; Intensive care unit; Nursing care; Pneumonia; Ventilator-associated