Nurses’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices on Sedation Practices for Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Tertiary Hospitals in Dar es Salaam

Abstract

Abstract Background Sedation is a medically induced state implemented to facilitate procedures or care of critically ill patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Nurses ensure safe sedation by applying agitation scales to reduce complications. There is sufficient research evaluating nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding sedation for critically ill patients in the ICU of Tanzanian tertiary Hospitals. Methods This hospital-based cross-sectional study assessed nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices on sedation in ICUs of three referral hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A sample of 163 nurses was recruited using stratified sampling. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and checklists, then analyzed with SPSS version 25. Variables with p ≤ 0.2 entered multivariate regression; significance was set at p < 0.05, 95% confidence interval. Results Most participants were female (60.7%) with a mean age of 34.6 ± 6.48 years. Of 163 nurses, 68.1% had adequate knowledge of sedation, though males were 38% less likely to demonstrate this (AOR = 0.377, 95% CI: 0.181–0.787, p = 0.009). Unfavourable attitudes were reported by 76.7% (n=125), while trained nurses were nearly twice as likely to show favorable attitudes (AOR = 2.53; 95% CI: 1.015–6.422; p = 0.046). Poor adherence was noted in 81.6% of respondents. Nurses aged 25–35 were 34% less likely to report poor adherence than those aged 45 and above (AOR = 0.344; 95% CI: 0.129–0.912; p = 0.032). Conclusion This study identified adequate knowledge but negative attitudes and poor adherence among ICU nurses. Strengthening training, mentorship, and standardized protocols is crucial for enhancing sedation care and improving patient outcomes.