Ventilator Waveform Analysis: Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Among Medical Officers in Intensive Care

Introduction: Mechanical ventilation is a keystone of modern critical care, and ventilator waveforms offer vital real-time insights into patient-ventilator interaction and device function.  
Objectives and Methods: A descriptive-analytical study was carried out with the primary aim of assessing medical officers' knowledge of ventilator waveform analysis in intensive care in Kandy District, Sri Lanka, along with their attitudes and practices in this regard. Knowledge was assessed on clinicians’ ability to identify ventilator modes and breath types and to recognize key ventilator parameters and abnormalities.
Results: The online survey yielded 46 responses (28.9% response rate), predominantly from medical officers (83%). Most respondents (56%) had over four years of critical care experience; 29% had received basic training in ventilator graphics, while 17% had no formal training. Mean knowledge score was 9.22 (range: 0–16) with a lower accuracy in identifying overdistension, inflection points, air leaks, and breath types. Significantly higher scores were among those with specialized postgraduate training (p < 0.001) and those with >4 years of experience (p = 0.049). Although 92% recognized waveforms as valuable for patient management, only 9% considered the routine use of waveforms as standard practice. Barriers to routine use included lack of familiarity (69%) and preference for alternative methods (31%). Encouragingly, 89% expressed interest in formal training, favoring a combination of study methods and bedside teaching. 
Conclusion: While there is recognition of its clinical value, more widespread adoption and routine use of ventilator waveform analysis are hindered by gaps in training and familiarity. Targeted training is the key to achieving clinicians’ competence in ventilator waveform analysis.