Effectiveness of an Evidence-Based Respiratory and Renal Care Training With Case-Based Discussion on Nurses' Clinical Reasoning, Knowledge & Practice, Nurse-Physician Collaboration and Mechanically Ventilated Patient Outcomes in a Tertiary-Level ICU in Bangladesh

Effectiveness of an Evidence-Based Respiratory and Renal Care Training With Case-Based Discussion on Nurses' Clinical Reasoning, Knowledge & Practice, Nurse-Physician Collaboration and Mechanically Ventilated Patient Outcomes in a Tertiary-Level ICU in Bangladesh

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of an evidence-based respiratory and renal care training program combined with case-based discussion on nurses' clinical reasoning, knowledge & practice, nurse-physician collaboration, as well as selected clinical outcomes among mechanically ventilated patients in a tertiary-level ICU in Bangladesh.

The intervention will provide structured education and practical training to ICU nurses on evidence-based respiratory and renal care for mechanically ventilated patients. Case-based discussions will be conducted to promote clinical reasoning, evidence-based decision-making, and nurse-physician collaboration during daily ICU rounds.

Nurses' outcomes will be assessed before and after the intervention, focusing on clinical reasoning, knowledge, practice, and nurse-physician collaboration.

Patient outcomes will be assessed using historical pre-intervention data and post-intervention data among eligible mechanically ventilated ICU patients, focusing on ventilator-associated events (VAE), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU length of stay, and ICU mortality.

The study is intended to determine whether evidence-based respiratory and renal care training with case-based discussion can improve ICU nurses' clinical reasoning, knowledge, practice, nurse-physician collaboration and contribute to improved outcomes among mechanically ventilated patients.

Background and Rationale:

Critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation are at high risk of complications related to respiratory and renal dysfunction, including ventilator-associated events (VAE), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), acute kidney injury (AKI), prolonged mechanical ventilation, prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and death. Prevention, early recognition, and appropriate management of these complications require ICU nurses to possess adequate knowledge, clinical reasoning ability, practical skills, and effective communication and collaboration with physicians and other members of the ICU team.

In resource-limited settings, including Bangladesh, gaps in ICU staffing, continuing professional education, standardized clinical practices, and multidisciplinary communication may affect the quality and safety of care provided to mechanically ventilated patients. Evidence-based training that combines theoretical education with practical application and case-based clinical discussion may improve nurses' ability to recognize patient deterioration, interpret clinical findings, apply evidence-based interventions, and communicate effectively with physicians and other ICU professionals.

This study will evaluate an evidence-based respiratory and renal care training program combined with structured case-based discussion for ICU nurses in a tertiary-level ICU in Bangladesh. The intervention is designed to strengthen nurses' clinical reasoning, knowledge, clinical practice, and nurse-physician collaboration in the care of mechanically ventilated patients.

The study will also examine whether improvements in nursing competency and collaborative clinical decision-making are associated with improved patient outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria:

For nurses:

• Registered nurses employed in the ICU at the time of enrollment
• Involved in direct patient care
• Willing to participate and provide informed written consent

For Patients:

• Age ≥18 years
• Patients receive mechanical ventilation for at least ≥ 48 hours
• Legal guardian of the patients who will provide informed written consent

Exclusion Criteria:

For nurses:

• Nurses on long-term leave and study leave during the intervention period
• Nurses working exclusively in administrative or managerial roles
• Nurses who did not complete the pre-test assessment

For Patients:

• Patients mechanically ventilated for less than 48 hours.
• Patients who have already developed VAE or VAP at ICU admission
• Patients with end-stage renal disease on chronic dialysis prior to ICU admission
• Readmissions to ICU during the same hospital stay