Knowledge and Management of Tracheal Tube Cuffs Among ICU Nurses in Korea

Purpose: The aim of this research was to determine knowledge and management of tracheal tube cuffs among nurses of ICU. Methods: This descriptive survey recruited 150 nurses working at 8 different adult ICUs within 2 tertiary hos-pitals in Seoul. A survey questionnaire was developed to measure cuff management. The internal reliability of the tool was examined by Cronbach's. Descriptive statistics and multiple regressions were used to analyze data. ⍺ Results: Among the 150 nurses, 94.0 % replied that they would measure the pressure themselves. With regard to nurses' knowledge about tracheal tube cuffs, only 6 % answered that they knew 'the appropriate cuff pressure'. The existence of a measuring device (p <.001), a guideline (p <.001), the level of knowledge on its related complications(p =.003), and clinical experience (p <.001) together accounted for 35.0 % of the total variation in cuff management. They pointed out that the lack of time and the lack of education were major barriers to appropriate management; whereas education update was the most imperative factor for good management. Conclusion: ICU nurses have inappropriate knowledge and practice in cuff management. Therefore continuing education is necessary for better practice of tracheal tube cuf