title: Knowledge and practice of intensive care nurses for endotracheal suctioning in a teaching hospital in western Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to determine intensive care nurses' knowledge and practice levels regarding open system endotracheal suctioning and to investigate if there is a relationship between nurses' demographic characteristics and their knowledge and practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted as a cross-sectional and non-participant structured observational design. Data were collected using a 45-item structured and self-administered questionnaire and a 31-item observational checklist. The study sample included 72 nurses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three adult intensive care units in a teaching hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The nurses' mean scores of knowledge and practice were 23.79±3.83 and 12.88±2.53. Their level of knowledge was very good in 59.7%, good in 34.7%, and the level of practice was fair in 79.2% and good in 18.1%. The relationship between the type of unit and the nurses' knowledge scores was statistically significant (p=0.013). The correlation between the nurses' scores of knowledge and practice was not statistically significant (r=0.220; p=0.063).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that the knowledge level of most of the nurses was good and their practice level was fair. Intensive care nurses must perform suctioning procedures safely and effectively to ensure delivery of quality of care and eliminate complications.
authors.affiliation: Tepecik Education and Research Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gül
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bülbül Maraş
authors.affiliation: Ege University, Faculty of Nursing, 35100, Bornova, İzmir, Turkey. Electronic address: elem.kocacal@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Elem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kocaçal Güler
authors.affiliation: Department of Fundamentals of Nursing, Ege University, Faculty of Nursing, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: İsmet
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Eşer
authors.affiliation: Tepecik Education and Research Hospital, Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Unit, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Şükran
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Köse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D064648:Critical Care Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000451:nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057566:Self Report; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: Endotracheal suctioning; Intensive care unit; Knowledge; Mechanical ventilation; Nursing practice