Effect of Text Messaging via Cell Phone on Critical Care Nurses' Knowledge of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

Abstract

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia is a type of hospital-acquired pneumonia, and nurses have an essential role in its prevention. This study aimed to determine the effect of text messaging via cell phone on nurses' knowledge in intensive care units about VentilatorAssociated Pneumonia. This quasi-experimental study was performed in intensive care units of hospitals in North Khorasan province. Nurses working in these wards were included in the study through the survey sampling method. The research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire about Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia; the qualitative face validity and quantitative content validity and reliability were assessed. After a pretest, text messages were sent four days a week, once a day for ten weeks; the post-test was taken one and three months after the last message was sent. To compare nurses' knowledge before and after the intervention, repeated measures analysis of variance was used using SPPS software. A total of 41 nurses were included. The mean score of knowledge about Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia was 9.65 ± 1.89, 14.56 ±3, 14.63 ± 2.7 before, one month, and three months after sending text messages, respectively. The score before sending the messages was different from the score one and three months after sending, which was statistically significant. It seems that the use of new educational methods such as text messaging can effectively improve the knowledge of nurses.