Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Critical Care Nurses Regarding Ventilator-Associated Event Prevention at King Abdulaziz Hospital, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Ventilator-associated events (VAEs) are major healthcare-associated complications among mechanically ventilated patients, contributing to increased morbidity, prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and higher healthcare costs. Critical care nurses play a pivotal role in implementing evidence-based strategies to prevent VAEs; however, evidence regarding their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) remains limited, particularly in Saudi Arabia. Objective: To assess critical care nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding VAE prevention, examine the relationships among these domains, and determine differences according to demographic and professional characteristics. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional correlational study was conducted among 89 critical care nurses working in the adult ICU, pediatric ICU, and neonatal ICU at King Abdulaziz Hospital, Al Ahsa in Saudi Arabia. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling and completed a validated self-administered questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to VAE prevention. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics and domain scores. Pearson's correlation examined relationships among KAP domains, while Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests compared scores across participant characteristics. Statistical significance was set at p < .05. Results: Participants demonstrated highly positive attitudes and high self-reported adherence to recommended VAE prevention practices, with median scores of 20 for both domains, whereas knowledge scores were more variable (median = 6). Knowledge was positively associated with practice (r = 0.257, p = .015). Specialized training was associated with higher knowledge scores (p = .010), while age was associated with attitude (p = .038). No significant differences in practice were observed across demographic or professional characteristics. Conclusion: Critical care nurses demonstrated positive attitudes and high adherence to evidence-based VAE prevention practices despite variability in knowledge. The association between knowledge and practice highlights the importance of structured education and competency-based training to strengthen evidence-based care. These findings provide baseline evidence to support nursing education, leadership, and quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing patient safety in Saudi critical care settings.