Knowledge, Perception & Practice of Eye Care Nursing among Nurses in Intensive Care Units

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify levels of knowledge, perception, and practice of eye care as part of nursing care in the ICU. Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional study design was used. The participants in this study were 269 registered nurses working in the ICUs of five university hospitals in Seoul, Korea. Between November 2005 and December 2005, data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire developed by the researchers, and analyzed using the SPSS Program. Results: In general, levels of knowledge of nursing care for the eyes were moderate among ICU nurses, but levels of perception of nursing care for the eyes were very high. Of the respondents, 61.7% reported that they would consult a doctor whenever they found an eye problem. Only 42.4% nurses answered that they provide eye care as part of the daily routine and 43.9% nurses responded that they cleanse the eye lids with wet saline gauze. In regression analysis, the practice of eye care as part of nursing was significantly influenced by perception of nursing care for the eyes, and knowledge of interventions for nursing care for the eyes. Conclusion: These results suggest that education on care of the eyes for ICU nurses and the development of a standardized eye care protocol should be done to improve quality of nursing care in the ICU.ope