Critical Care Nurses' Knowledge and Practices Concerning Eye Care of Patients at Two Teaching University Hospitals, Egypt

Background: Eye care is recognized as a fundamental nursing procedure essential for critically ill patients to eliminate ocular complications. Aim of the Study: was to assess nurses' knowledge and practices concerning eye care of critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Methods: A convenient sample of 89 nurses working in Intensive Care Units at Talkha Central Hospital and Emergency Hospital Mansoura University were included in the study. Eye care knowledge questionnaire &nursing performance check list for eye care of critically ill patient were utilized for data collection. Results: The majority of studied ICU nurses demonstrated correct answers regarding eye assessment, signs of eye infection, risk factors for incomplete lid closure, physical examination of eye and assessment of pupil reaction to light and Hirshberg. However, the total mean knowledge score of Talkha Central Hospital is better than Emergency hospital at Mansoura University. On the other hand, more than half of nurses in both hospitals didn't practise eye care adequately such as hand washing before applying eye care., assessing signs of infection, assessing the pupil reflex & eye movement. Finally, no significant correlation was found between total knowledge score of the studied nurses about eye care and their performance in both hospitals (r = 0.034, P Value 0.751). Conclusion and Recommendations: Nurses' practices regarding eye care of critically ill patients in (ICUs) in both hospitals were not adequate, in spite their satisfactory knowledge. Therefore, Educational initiatives should focus on weaknesses in practice noted to improve eye care of patients in ICU