Abstract
This study aimed to explore the oral care practices of nurses on ventilated patients in Kigali intensive care unit (ICU). Oral care in mechanically ventilated patients is a very important nursing intervention performed to prevent colonisation of the oropharynx by pathogenic bacteria, thus preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). This study was a quantitative, descriptive study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 32 nurses working in five ICUs in Kigali, Rwanda. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 was used for data analysis. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations) were used to summarise the data. The study found that most of the nurses (97%) performed oral care two times per day. The practices performed by nurses included: cleaning of the oral cavity with a soft toothbrush, suctioning, cleaning of the tongue, and applying lip balm. The nurses felt that lack of resources (n=27, 84%), lack of institutional protocol (n=20, 62%), and inadequate staffing (n=19, 59%) were the barriers to practicing oral care. The study recommended that evidence-based oral care guidelines be developed for use in all ICUs. The study also highlighted the need for hospitals to ensure the availability of supplies and adequate staffing for effective oral care. There is also a need for regular in-service training for nurses on oral care for ventilated patients. The study recommends further research on the knowledge and attitudes of nurses regarding oral care for ventilated patients.