Özet:

Oral care is an important component in intensive care unit (ICU) nurses for the patients health and welfare to provide safety. It will prevent hospital based infections. Nurses are accountable for the oral care of the patients. Good knowledge and practice of the nurses can improve the oral care of the patients. This study aims to assess the knowledge,attitude and practice of oral care for patients among the ICU nurses.   MATERIALS AND METHODS:  60 ICU nurses were assessed from private medical institutions in this cross sectional study.  A pre-validated questionnaire containing ten questions was distributed among the ICU nurses. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS software version -23. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed.   RESULTS: The result showed that 36.67% had a diploma and 55% had a bachelor as their educational qualification. About 96.67% think that oral care is important for the prevention of infection. Majority of the nurses are aware about oral health. 60% have not attended any awareness of oral health, only 40% have attended oral health awareness programs. There was no significant difference in the knowledge and attitude towards health between male and female nurses (p>0.05).   CONCLUSION: ICU nurses have good knowledge and attitude towards oral health care.  However, their practice of oral health care towards ICU patients needs to be improved to improve the oral health of the ICU patients. Oral health care practice to be inculcated in the course of nursing education.  

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