Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices towards Tracheostomy Care among Nurses in A Selected Hospital in Galle, Sri Lanka.

Abstract

Background: Tracheostomy care is a critical aspect of nursing practice, where patients with tracheostomy often require respiratory support. Adequate knowledge, positive attitudes, and appropriate practices among nurses are essential for ensuring the safe and effective management of patients with tracheostomies. Objective: To assess the nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding tracheostomy care in Base Hospital, Elpitiya

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 108 nurses at Base Hospital, Elpitiya using convenient sampling method. Data was gathered via a self-administrated questionnaire which included questions on knowledge, attitude and practice regarding tracheostomy care. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were used to analyse the data using SPSS version 25.0.

Results: Majority of the participants (95%, n=103) were females and mean±SD age was 36±4 years. A significant portion (69.4%, n=75) had a diploma as their higher educational qualification. Most of the nurses (61.1%, n=66) had over ten years of experience. The average knowledge score was 78.36±10.85, indicating a robust understanding of tracheostomy care among the majority of nurses. Attitude scores ranged from 12 to 16, with a mean score of 14.07±0.72, suggesting generally positive attitudes towards tracheostomy care. Practice scores varied widely (22 to 80), but the mean was 62.53±9.15, indicating a generally consistent and competent approach to tracheostomy care. Age and education level were associated with knowledge (p=0.42, 0.05), while gender was associated with practice (p=0.004).

Conclusions: Nurses exhibit a commendable proficiency level in their attitudes, knowledge, and practices regarding tracheostomy care. Although these findings underscore the effectiveness of current training, further improvement in nursing education and practice is essential in tracheostomy care.