Nation-wide survey of oral care practice in Japanese intensive care units: A descriptive study.

ABSTRACT: Oral care for critically ill patients helps provide comfort and prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia. However, a standardized protocol for oral care in intensive care units is currently unavailable. Thus, this study aimed to determine the overall oral care practices, including those for intubated patients, in Japanese intensive care units. We also discuss the differences in oral care methods between Japanese ICUs and ICUs in other countries. This study included all Japanese intensive care units meeting the authorities' standard set criteria, with a minimum of 0.5 nurses per patient at all times and admission of adult patients requiring mechanical ventilation. An online survey was used to collect data. Survey responses were obtained from one representative nurse per intensive care unit.

SUBMITTER: Kuribara T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10980190 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature