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Table 2 Assessment of knowledge on managing tracheostomy-related complications (n = 348)

From: Assessment of the ability, perception, and readiness of nurses to manage tracheostomy-related complications in Riyadh City: a cross-sectional study

Knowledge statement

N (%)

1. Which of the following is an indication to perform a tracheostomy?a

 Airway obstructionb

324 (82.0%)

 Prolonged mechanical ventilationb

269 (68.1%)

 Inability to intubateb

231 (58.5%)

 Neck traumab

175 (44.3%)

 Facial fractureb

159 (40.3%)

 Neuromuscular diseaseb

156 (39.5%)

 Bilateral vocal cord paralysisb

147 (37.2%)

 Infections

141 (35.7%)

 Congenital anomalyb

125 (31.6%)

 Neoplasmb

87 (22.0%)

 Prophylaxis in head and neck proceduresb

78 (19.7%)

2. How frequently should the inner cannula be checked and cleaned?

 Once a day

139 (35.2%)

 Twice a dayb

159 (40.3%)

 Every 2 days

33 (08.4%)

 Once a week

18 (04.6%)

  I do not know

46 (11.6%)

3. Which of the following is a component of the tracheostomy care kit?

 Inner cannula

177 (44.8%)

 Obturator

49 (12.4%)

 Plug

29 (07.3%)

 Hydrogen peroxideb

68 (17.2%)

 I do not know

72 (18.2%)

4. What are the characteristics of an ideal tracheostomy stoma?

 Clean and dryb

333 (84.3%)

 Wet

18 (04.6%)

 Full of granulation tissues

13 (03.3%)

 I do not know

31 (07.8%)

5. What is the ideal cuff pressure?

 Below 25 cm H2Ob

180 (45.6%)

 Above 26 cm H2O

42 (10.6%)

 Below 35 cm H2O

06 (01.5%)

 Above 35 cm H2O

33 (08.4%)

 I do not know

134 (33.9%)

6. When should the cuff be deflated?

 When the patient is off MVb

192 (48.6%)

 Cuff should always be kept inflated

123 (31.1%)

 I do not know

80 (20.3%)

7. Do patients with a tracheostomy require ‘humidification’?

 Yesb

303 (76.7%)

 No

46 (11.6%)

 I do not know

46 (11.6%)

8. How frequent should ‘suctioning’ be performed?

 Only when indicatedb

187 (47.3%)

 Routinely every 2 h

101 (25.6%)

 Routinely every 4 h

40 (10.1%)

 Routinely on each shift

32 (08.1%)

 I do not know

35 (08.9%)

9. Which of the following is an indication for suctioning?a

 Audible or visual signs of secretions in the tube*

318 (80.5%)

 Signs of respiratory distressb

274 (69.4%)

 Blocked or partially blocked tubeb

265 (67.1%)

 Vomiting

138 (34.9%)

 Desaturation on pulse oximetryb

224 (56.7%)

 I do not know

30 (07.6%)

10. What is the appropriate suctioning pressure?

 50-70 mmHg

34 (08.6%)

 80-120 mmHgb

234 (59.2%)

 120-150 mmHg

38 (09.6%)

 I do not know

89 (22.5%)

11. Appropriate length of the suction tube in relation to cannula length

 Shorter

45 (11.4%)

 Same lengthb

131 (33.2%)

 Longer

157 (39.7%)

 I do not know

62 (15.7%)

12. When should the sutures be removed after surgical insertion?

 5-7 daysb

170 (43.0%)

 14 days

102 (25.8%)

 21 days

16 (04.1%)

 30 days

09 (02.3%)

 I do not know

98 (24.8%)

13. When should the first tube be changed?

 5-10 daysb

143 (36.2%)

 3 weeks

43 (10.9%)

 1 month

53 (13.4%)

 3 months

63 (15.9%)

 I do not know

93 (23.5%)

14. Mandatory bedside tracheostomy equipment that should be maintained constantlya

 Tracheal dilator*

246 (62.3%)

 Spare tracheostomy tube of a larger size

101 (25.6%)

 Spare tracheostomy tube of the same sizeb

221 (55.9%)

 Spare tracheostomy tube of a smaller sizeb

109 (27.6%)

 Yankauer suction tip

208 (52.7%)

 Endotracheal tube

147 (37.2%)

 I do not know

58 (14.7%)

15. What is the first measure that should be taken for accidental decannulation?

 Reinsert the tubeb

84 (21.3%)

 Bag mask ventilation

156 (39.5%)

 Jaw thrust

17 (04.3%)

 Head tilt chin lift

58 (14.7%)

 I do not know

80 (20.3%)

16. Which instrument will facilitate re-insertion of the tracheostomy tube?

 Laryngoscope

38 (09.6%)

 Tracheal dilatorb

181 (45.8%)

 Obturator

58 (14.7%)

 Suction catheter

19 (04.8%)

 I do not know

99 (25.1%)

17. What is the first measure that should be taken for tube obstruction?

 Ask patient to cough

77 (19.5%)

 Remove the tube

56 (14.2%)

 Insert suctionb

130 (32.9%)

 Deflate the cuff

68 (17.2%)

 I do not know

64 (16.2%)

18. Which of the following is a sign of tube obstruction?a

 Noisy breathingb

211 (53.4%)

 Difficult breathingb

267 (67.6%)

 Use of accessory musclesb

212 (53.7%)

 Abdominal pain

69 (17.5%)

 Drop in oxygen saturationb

283 (71.6%)

 Difficulty passing suction catheterb

230 (58.2%)

 I do not know

46 (11.6%)

19. What is the first measure that should be taken for tracheostomy bleeding?

 Inflate the cuffb

33 (08.4%)

 Remove the tube

27 (06.8%)

 Apply pressure dressing

172 (43.5%)

 Start suctioning

87 (22.0%)

 I do not know

76 (19.2%)

20. Which of the following signs indicate infection?a

 Feverb

366 (92.7%)

 Granulation tissuesb

126 (31.9%)

 Tissue breakdownb

125 (31.6%)

 Foul odor mucusb

252 (63.8%)

 Increased respiratory rateb

184 (46.6%)

 Swellingb

215 (54.4%)

 I do not know

26 (06.6%)

21. Which of the following measures will help in reducing tracheostomy-related infections?a

 Systemic antibiotics

273 (69.1%)

 Wet dressingb

107 (27.1%)

 Swab if there is any secretionb

208 (52.7%)

 Topical steroid for granulation tissuesb

111 (28.1%)

 I do not know

48 (12.2%)

Total knowledge score (mean ± SD)

21.6 ± 9.11

Level of knowledge

 Poor

232 (58.7%)

 Moderate

154 (39.0%)

 Good

9 (02.3%)

  1. aVariables with multiple responses
  2. bIndicates the correct answer