Development of a nurse knowledge, attitude and practice questionnaire on protocolized weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation

Aim To develop and evaluate a questionnaire to measure the factors influencing the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of ICU nurses regarding protocolized weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Methods From July to October in 2023, an online survey was conducted among ICU nurses from 30 top-level hospitals in China. The questionnaire’s items were generated through relevant literature reviews, group discussion, Delphi expert consultation and small sample pre-test. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were assessed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results The questionnaire developed in this study consists of three dimensions: knowledge, attitude, and practice. The knowledge dimension contains 13 items, the attitude dimension has 15 items, and the practice dimension has 11 items. The Cronbach's α coefficient, split-half reliability coefficient, and test-retest reliability coefficient of each of the three dimensions are all greater than 0.7, indicating good internal consistency and stability. The CFA shows that the model fitting results are acceptable. Conclusion The questionnaire developed in this study can be used as an effective tool to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice of adult intensive care unit nurses regarding the protocolized weaning process. Implications for Profession and/or Patient Care: A better understanding of the influencing factors of nurses' knowledge, attitude and practice regarding protocolized weaning can lay the foundation for formulating targeted intervention measures and provide a reference for optimizing the medical and nursing collaboration strategies for weaning. Impact: The questionnaire developed in this study has good reliability and validity, which was used to measure the factors influencing ICU nurses' knowledge, attitude and practice regarding the protocolized weaning process. By using this questionnaire for investigation, relevant intervention measures can formulate. This could optimize the collaboration strategy between doctors and nurses, promote the implementation of nurse-led protocolized weaning, and reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation for patients. Reporting Method : We followed the STROBE checklist in reporting this study. Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution.