RESUMO
BACKGROUND: In many regions of the world, tracheostomy care is a major health concern. Many patients die as a result of nurses' lack of awareness regarding tracheostomy care. This study was carried out to report the acquired training, clinical experience and team approach while caring for patients with tracheostomies and then evaluate these aspects on nurses' confidence in caring for these patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study involving a self-administered questionnaire was carried out among nurses from October 2020 to June 2021. A self-administered questionnaire including questions on sociodemographic characteristics, tracheostomy training and support and confidence in caring for patients with tracheostomies. It was disseminated electronically to the nurses working in a tertiary medical center in Saudi Arabia with multiple reminders. Group difference was determined using t test and chi square tests appropriately with a set p value to less than 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 315 nurses with different educational backgrounds were included. The majority were females, middle aged and gained their nursing degree from outside the country. Over 30% of the nurses cared for patients with tracheostomies while more than two thirds did not receive adequate training to care for this patient population. Confidence was reflected in the working units, the time spent caring for these patients and the number of patients cared for. Additionally, nurses caring for children and adults with tracheostomies were more confident in their care than those caring for adolescents and older adults. CONCLUSION: Continuous training and competency evaluation are vital in delivering optimal care. Confidence level is impacted by training received and by the presence of assisted ventilation. Future studies should aim for a national representation of this topic to inform policy and practice.
RESUMO
The world has taken proactive measures to combat the pandemic since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, which was caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). These measures range from increasing the production of personal protective equipment (PPE) and highlighting the value of social distancing to the emergency use authorization (EUA) of therapeutic drugs or antibodies and their appropriate use; nonetheless, the disease is still spreading quickly and is ruining people's social lives, the economy, and public health. As a result, effective vaccines are critical for bringing the pandemic to an end and restoring normalcy in society. Several potential COVID-19 vaccines are now being researched, developed, tested, and reviewed. Since the end of June 2022, several vaccines have been provisionally approved, whereas others are about to be approved. In the upcoming years, a large number of new medications that are presently undergoing clinical testing are anticipated to hit the market. To illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of their technique, to emphasize the additives and delivery methods used in their creation, and to project potential future growth, this study explores these vaccines and the related research endeavors, including conventional and prospective approaches.
