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

Tracheostomy, one of the oldest known surgical procedures, is indicated when the airway is compromised and long-term ventilation is required [1]. Tracheostomy-related adverse events constitute a significant global issue, accounting for half of all airway-related deaths and hypoxic brain damage cases in critical care units [2]. Generally, these complications and adverse events are related to poor tracheostomy care and practices [3]. Reports from the United Kingdom (UK) have identified that adverse events occur in 20–30% of all hospitalized patients managed with a tracheostomy [4].

Tracheostomy care and management are key skills required by all nurses, as nurses are considered crucial members of the tracheostomy care team regardless of the nurse-designated unit of practice [5], especially in situations of bed management crisis. During the pandemic, where the care of tracheostomized patients was not limited to intensive care, high dependency, or otolaryngology floors, these patients could be admitted and managed on any hospital floor.

Patients with tracheostomy have a high risk of airway obstruction, hemorrhage, and local and systemic infection. Poor knowledge and practices regarding tracheostomy care by bedside nurses can lead to complications that are life-threatening to the patient. Nurses play a major role in promoting positive outcomes in patients with tracheostomy, as nurses spend more time with patients receiving tracheostomy care. Nevertheless, the knowledge and practices of nurses regarding tracheostomy care have been reported to be very poor, thus negatively impacting patient outcomes [6]. As research on this topic in Saudi Arabia is limited, this study aimed to evaluate the current level of knowledge and ability of nurses in Saudi Arabia to manage tracheostomy complications.

In total, 395 nurses responded to the survey. Table 1 outlines the socio-demographic characteristics of nurses: 46.8% were aged between 31 and 40 years, with a predominance of female individuals (82%). Most nurses held bachelor’s degrees (77.5%), with 42.5% having 5-10 years of work experience. Nearly half of nurses were employed in tertiary hospitals (57.7%). Most of the respondents worked in government institutions (85.6%). Almost 25% of the nurses worked in inpatient medical wards (Fig. 1). Of nurses, 78.5% had cared for patients with tracheostomies, and > 50% had dealt with tracheostomy complications before (Fig. 2). Approximately 35.2% of nurses had attended lectures or courses related to managing patients with tracheostomies.

Results of the assessment of knowledge on managing tracheostomy-related complications are presented in Table 2. Most nurses thought that the main reason for performing tracheostomies was airway obstruction (82%), followed by prolonged mechanical ventilation (68.1%) and inability to intubate (58.5%). Of nurses, 40.3% correctly stated that the inner cannula should be checked and cleaned twice daily. However, nurses recognized that the ideal characteristics of a tracheostomy stoma were clean and dry, while the ideal cuff pressure was < 25 cm (45.6%). Approximately 48.6% of the respondents knew that the cuff should be deflated when removing the patient from a mechanical ventilator. Of respondents, 76.7% believed that patients with tracheostomy required “humidification.” Of nurses, 47.3% knew that suctioning should only be performed when necessary, and 80.5% knew that audible or visible signs of secretion in the tube were the most common indications for suctioning. Most respondents correctly identified the appropriate suction pressure as 80–120 mmHg (59.2%). Only 33.2% of respondents knew that the proper suction tube length relative to the cannula length was the same as that of the suction tube. Furthermore, there was a lack of knowledge regarding when to change the first tube, with only 36.2% indicating a response of 5-10 days. A tracheal dilator was correctly selected as the piece of bedside tracheostomy equipment that should be kept at all times (62.3%). Only 21.3% of the respondents knew that reinserting the tube should be the first step after accidental decannulation. In total, 32.9% of participants reported that inserting suction was the first measure of tube obstruction. Oxygen saturation was correctly selected as a sign of tube obstruction (71.6%), followed by breathing difficulty (67.6%). Fever was correctly selected as a sign of infection (92.7%), followed by foul odor mucus (63,8%) and increased respiratory rate (46.6%), whereas systemic antibodies were wrongly selected as a measure to reduce tracheostomy-related infections (69.1%). Collectively, the mean ± standard deviation score was 21.6 ± 9.11, with poor, moderate, and good knowledge detected in 58.7%, 39%, and 2.3% of the nurses, respectively (Figs. 3 and 4).

As presented in Table 3, higher knowledge scores were strongly associated with having a higher education level, such as a master’s degree or PhD (H = 17.756; p < 0.001), work experience in a tertiary hospital (H = 71.332; p < 0.001), working at a government institution (Z = 4.665; p < 0.001), caring for patients with tracheostomies (Z = 4.729; p < 0.001), and attending lectures or courses about managing patients with tracheostomies (Z = 3.313; p < 0.001). Conversely, lower knowledge scores were associated with nurses aged between 20 and 30 years (H = 22.189; p < 0.001) and those with < 5 years of experience (H = 40.827; p < 0.001).

This study aimed to evaluate nurses’ readiness to manage tracheostomy-related complications. Nurses’ readiness was measured by establishing their knowledge level and associated factors. Our analysis revealed that 58.7%, 39%, and 2.3% of nurses had poor, moderate, and good knowledge levels, respectively (mean ± standard deviation score: 21.6 ± 9.11 of 49 points). The results of several studies worldwide are consistent with our main finding demonstrating significant deficiency in tracheotomy care-related knowledge among nurses and their abilities to manage complications [13‐15].

Our data revealed that nurses who worked in tertiary hospitals or government institutions with higher professional degrees (master’s and PhD) and previous experience with tracheostomized patients exhibited a readiness to manage tracheostomy-related care. These nurses had also attended courses and lectures on tracheostomy-related care. This result is contrary to the findings of Khanum et al. [13], who reported that nurses aged between 26 and 30 years had significantly higher knowledge scores, and no significant differences in qualifications and years of tracheostomy care among nurses were identified.

Confidence is a critical aspect in the management of tracheostomized patients. Our results demonstrated that almost half of the nurses had no previous experience with tracheostomy-related emergencies, and many lacked confidence in managing such cases. The need for educational programs and training to close gaps in knowledge is vital to achieve the optimal quality of care. Better knowledge has been observed among nurses in hospitals that invest in the implementation of educational content on tracheostomy care [16]. Sufficient knowledge of tracheostomy management and care is necessary, as it may translate into better responses in actual practice. Consistent with our reports, another study [17] reported that comfort with a tracheostomy was higher among nurses with at least 5 years of experience, continuous exposure, and close work with tracheostomized patients. This highlights the importance of training and exposure, which reflect nurses’ confidence in the management of tracheostomized patients in actual clinical practice.

Concerns about the gaps in knowledge and practices can be addressed through in-service continuous professional development for registered nurses working in all units, such as internal medicine, surgical wards, and intensive care units, which will help to identify the major factors contributing to these inadequacies [18, 19].

 We conjecture that the shortage of nurses is another critical issue contributing to this problem. A recent report in Saudi Arabia revealed that the number of nurses per 100,000 inhabitants was 5.5 in 2018, falling behind developed countries such as the United States (US), UK, and Australia [18]. Several reports have indicated that the lack of adequate nursing staff negatively impacted patient care and the nurses themselves, resulting in burnout, anxiety, and lack of adequate time for updating their medical knowledge [19, 20].

Despite our significant results, there are some limitations to our study, particularly the risk of response bias. Additionally, the parameters used in the questionnaire have not been validated. Future studies should include more variables, such as working conditions, psychological factors, and burnout measurement.

Nurses are the frontline caregivers for tracheostomized patients and must therefore maintain the appropriate skill set and self-efficacy to provide safe and effective care. A lack of such skills and knowledge can be life-threatening. The current findings have significant clinical applications, as we identified deficiencies in nursing knowledge that align with the observed gaps in tracheostomy patient care. This highlights the need to implement further education and training. Nurses who received tracheostomy training had significantly higher knowledge scores. This is essential to nursing education and should also constitute part of a hospital's broader initiatives to improve and to maintain high-quality patient care and satisfaction. Our findings suggest that implementing targeted training programs for tracheostomy care may be an effective training strategy to ensure standardized nursing competencies for specialized care.