Effect of Educational Program on Staff Nurse's Awareness and Practices Regarding Risk Factors and Prevention of Exposure Keratopathy among unconscious and mechanical ventilated Patients in Palestine رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

Introduction: Visual impairments in patients inside the critical care unit may often go unreported, leading to potentially severe effects such as exposure keratopathy. To reduce these risks, it is important to promptly recognize, prevent, and educate ICU nurses about these problems. Methodology: A pre-post quasi-experimental design was used; the design was chosen because of its importance in contributing to examining and raising the level of awareness and practice among ICU nurses. Sample of the study: A sample of 109 ICU nurses who are currently employed was collected for convenience in private hospitals in Palestine and was selected from a population of 150 ICU nurses. Aim of the study: To assess the effect of the educational program on staff nurses' awareness and practices regarding risk factors and prevention of Exposure Keratopathy among patients on a mechanical ventilator and unconscious patients in Palestine. Result: After the intervention, nurses' awareness of the chi-score test reported a significant improvement in awareness (P-value < 0.001), and the chi-square test reported a significant improvement in practices after the intervention (P-value < 0.001). However, there were no significant variations in the outcomes according to years of nursing experience or gender. Conclusion: The intervention greatly improved nurses' understanding and implementation of keratopathy about risk factors and prevention in ICU patients. The study focuses on the efficacy of targeted interventions in improving critical care nursing, regardless of gender or level of experience. The results of pre-intervention underscore the need for continuous education to enhance patient care and guarantee safety inside the critical care setting.