Implementing Evidenced Based Oral Care for Critically Ill Patients
Abstract
Purpose: This EBP project determined if an evidence-based oral care program resulted in increased nurses knowledge and improved oral care practices compliance. Design: The project used a counter balanced design to evaluate the impact of an oral care program, using the Iowa Model. Methods: Evidence-based Oral Care (EB OC) critical care nursing education was conducted over a two-week period using the conceptual underpinning of the Iowa Model, the Diffusion of Innovation process, and project specific oral care evidence-based practice instruction. Knowledge evaluations were conducted at three time points: before, immediately after, and 2 months following implementation of the oral care program. Oral care practices were standardized to be conducted every 2 hours and then every 4 hours during 2 six-week sessions. This was followed by a six-week sustainment period and the collection of OC compliance and nurse knowledge data. Two 10-bed trauma surgical critical care units from one Level I trauma military medical center were evaluated.Sample: The sample included nurses (n = 88) and retrospective electronic medical records from 60 patients. Analysis: Two-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric tests were used to evaluate the impact of the oral care program. Findings: Oral care education scores significantly improved over time (p = 0.0051). The following comparisons of the evidence based oral care compliance were statistically significant: baseline compliance when OC was provided every 4 hours (p <.0001), Q4 best clinical - baseline (p <.0001), oral care given every 2 hours as compared to every 4 hours (p <.0001), Q4 best clinical - Q2 (p 0.0079), oral care provided every 4 hours during the sustainment period as compared to baseline (p 0.0285). Breaking out just oral care components (no EBP) was significantly higher post compared to pre-test as well (p-value 0.0036).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 28, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1008151
Entities
People
- Laura L. Feider
Organizations
- Geneva Foundation