Knowledge levels of intensive care nurses on prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Ventilator-associated pneumonia constitutes a significant concern for ventilated patients in the intensive care unit. AIM: This study was planned to evaluate the knowledge of nurses working in general intensive care units concerning evidence-based measures for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia. METHOD: This study design is cross-sectional. It was carried out on nurses working in the general intensive care units of anesthiology and re-animation clinics. Collection of research data was performed by means of a Nurse Identification Form and a Form of Evidence-Based Knowledge concerning the Prevention of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia. Characterization statistics were shown by percentage, median and interquartile range. Chi-square and Wilcoxon tests and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used as appropriate. RESULTS: The median value of total points scored by nurses on the questionnaire was 4.00 ± 2.00. The difference between the nurses' education levels, duration of work experience and participation in in-service training programmes on ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention and the median value of their total scores on the questionnaire was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The conclusion of the study was that critical care nurses' knowledge about ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention is poor.

Oral glucose solution to alleviate pain induced by intramuscular injections in preterm infants.

PURPOSE: The purpose was to assess the effectiveness of 5% oral glucose solution in reducing pain in preterm infants during intramuscular injection. DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled, unblinded trial to investigate the effect of glucose solution on the pain of intramuscular injection in preterm infants (N = 80). RESULTS: Infants who received oral glucose had significantly lower pain scores (p < .001), less crying time (p < .001), higher oxygen saturation (p < .001), and lower heart rate after compared with during the procedure (p = .02). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Our results suggest that oral glucose, even if used in the lowest dose, may have a pain-relieving effect in preterm infants if administered pre-procedure.

Toilet training age and influencing factors: a multicenter study.

To determine toilet training age and the factors influencing this in our country, 1500 children who had completed toilet training were evaluated in a multicenter study. The mean age of toilet training was 22.32 ± 6.57 months. The duration it took to complete toilet training was 6.60 ± 2.20 months on the average. In univariant analysis, toilet training age increased as the parental education level, specifically that of the mother, increased. The training age of children whose mothers had over 12 years of education differed significantly from that of children of mothers with less education. There was no significant difference in toilet training age with regard to the education level of the father, or the employment status of the mother. We also found significant differences with respect to family income level, toilet type and training method. In multivariant analysis, family income >5000 TL and use of a potty chair were determined to be factors affecting toilet training age. In conclusion, toilet training age in Turkey, a developing country, was found to be lower than that in developed countries.