RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of education and quality control work group focusing on nursing practices for prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). MATERIAL AND METHOD: A quasi-experimental study was performed to evaluate the effect of education and quality control work group on prevention of VAP by 18 nurses in the womens' medical ward, Surat Thani Hospital, Thailand. Pre-intervention nursing practices were observed in March, 2002, followed by interventions in April 2002 and two post-tests on nursing practices in May 2002 and July 2002. Interventions included education and quality control work group focusing on nursing practices on prevention of VAR Each observation period lasted for one month. Research instruments included a demographic data collection form, a quality control circle teaching plan, an evaluation manual and an observational recording form. RESULTS: After the intervention, significant improvement on nursing practices for prevention of VAP was observed in the first (60% vs. 85%; P<0.001) and the second month (60% vs. 91 %; P<0.001) post-intervention. Compliance to nursing practice guidelines among the participants were also increased in all practice categories (87% vs. 98%; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The present study suggests the positive roles of education and quality control work group to improve nursing practices for preventions of VAP Additional studies are needed to examine the long-term effects of these interventions.