Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) Among Neuro-Critical Care Nurses in Preventing Ocular Surface Disorders in Unconscious, Mechanically Ventilated Patients.

BACKGROUND: Eyes are vulnerable to exposure and dryness in patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU), leading to significant ocular morbidity in the form of ocular surface disorders. Nurses' knowledge, attitude, and practical skills play a vital role in executing proper nursing care and preventing vision-threatening complications. AIM: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of eye care measures among neuro-critical care nurses and their relationship in preventing ocular surface disorders in unconscious, mechanically ventilated patients. METHODS: A quasi- experimental pre-post interventional study with a checklist-controlled group was done between August 2022 and July 2024 in a multispecialty tertiary care hospital. Nursing staff working in neuro ICU setups participated in the study, and a validated questionnaire tool was used to collect the data. The association between two categorical variables was measured using the chi-square/Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: Among the participants, 64% of them had unsatisfactory knowledge regarding eye care, and 60% had a satisfactory attitude, but only 54% performed satisfactory eye care practices. None of the demographic variables, such as age, experience, or critical care training, had any impact on the practice of eye care. The training on identification, treatment, and preventive strategies, and the use of a checklist on managing ocular surface disorder, significantly improved the performance on all the parameters. Additionally, 80% of the participants demonstrated satisfactory knowledge, satisfactory attitude was noted among 86%, and satisfactory practice performance increased to 82%. The rate of ocular surface disorder reduced from 48% (48) at the beginning of this study to 12% (12) after 12 months post training. The performance was better sustained among the group that consistently used the checklist. CONCLUSION: A good attitude, along with adequate knowledge, resulted in appropriate eye care practices. All three domains are interdependent and have a positive relationship with each other. The training on identification, treatment, and prevention strategies, along with the use of a checklist, can significantly lower the rate of occurrence of ocular surface disorder in unconscious, mechanically ventilated patients.