Knowledge, attitude and reporting practices of ventilator-related errors among nursing professionals

Background: Ventilator-related errors (VREs) pose a critical concern for patient safety, necessitating a thorough understanding and mitigation strategies within healthcare settings. This study delves into the prevalence of VREs, while examining the nurse's knowledge of VREs and their reporting attitudes, and practices. Study design: Cross sectional analytical study. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 129 nurses working in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a major tertiary care hospital located in the southern part of India. The study involved the administration of a Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) survey questionnaire. Results: The findings demonstrate a deficiency in the comprehension of VREs among ICU nurses, which subsequently affects their attitudes and reporting practices. Only a small percentage of nurses possess good knowledge (13.2 %), attitude (7 %), and reporting practices (5.4 %). Many nurses identified issues with ventilator performance, including component failure (17 %), design issues (14 %), and alarm problems (14 %). They also reported battery-related problems (9 %), lack of awareness of the instruction manual (7 %), software challenges (6 %), and wear and tear (6 %). A significant association between VRE knowledge and staff experience (p < 0.05) and attitude (P < 0.001) was found. Reporting practices are influenced by staff attitudes (moderate, P < 0.001; good, P < 0.001). Conclusion: This study highlights the significant impact of VRE on patient safety, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive understanding and effective preventative measures in healthcare settings.