The provision of patient personal hygiene in the intensive care unit : a descriptive exploratory study of bed-bathing practice

Abstract

Background/objectives: The provision of the patient bed-bath is a fundamental nursing care activity yet few quantitative data and no qualitative data are available on
registered nurses’ (RNs) clinical practice in this domain in the intensive care unit ICU). The aim of this study was to describe ICURNs current practice with respect to the timing, frequency and duration of the patient bed-bath and the cleansing and emollient agents used.
Methods: The study utilised a two-phase sequential explanatory mixed method design. Phase one used a questionnaire to survey RNs and phase two employed semi-
structured focus group(FG)interviews with RNs.Data was collected over 28 days across four Australian metropolitan ICUs. Ethical approval was granted from the relevant hospital and university human research ethics committees. RNs were asked to complete a questionnaire following each episode of care(i.e.bed-bath)and then to attend one of three FG interviews: RNs with less than 2 years ICU experience;RNs with 2—5 years ICU experience; and RNs with greater than 5 years ICU experience.