The effect of smartphone ventilator training application on the knowledge and skills of intensive care unit nurses

Abstract

Aim: Mechanical ventilation is widely used in the intensive care units (ICUs). Nurses need to learn how to use this device. This study aimed to develop a ventilator training application software (VTApp) on the smartphones and to study its effect on the knowledge and skills of nurses working in the ICUs. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was carried out on fifty nurses working in ICUs of Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan, Iran. First, the VTApp was designed and developed based on the results of the needs assessment on the Android platform. Participants were asked to install the VTApp on their smartphones and use it regularly. The scores of ICU nurses' knowledge and skills, before and after the intervention, were compared using the Wilcoxon test at a significant level of P < 0.05. Results: The usability assessment of the VTApp showed that it was at a desirable level according to the IT experts' opinions (mean score was 75.3 out of 100). Based on the results of the study, the mean scores of nurses' knowledge and skills in the preintervention stage were 12.22 ± 3.34 and 21.36 ± 6.31, respectively. These mean scores increased to 16.5 ± 2.8 and 28.38 ± 6.21 after intervention, which was significant for both variables (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: The use of the smartphone's VTApp increased the knowledge and skills of nurses in ICUs. Further studies are recommended.