Objective To investigate the current status of ICU nurses on microaspiration assessment in artificial airway patients, and to analyze the influencing factors for obstruction of assessment works. Methods A total of 626 ICU nurses in 14 class Ⅲ hospitals of Guangxi were enrolled as the research subjects. The self⁃designed questionnaire was used to investigate ICU nurses' general data, current status of ICU nurses on microaspiration assessment in artificial airway patients, and to evaluate obstacle factors for microaspiration in artificial airway patients. Results (1) 70.3% (440/626) of ICU nurses had cared for artificial airway patients with microaspiration, 66.0% (413/626) of ICU nurses had actively evaluated the occurrence states of artificial airway patients with microaspiration; moreover, 52.1% (326/626), 36.7% (230/626), and 11.2% (70/626) of ICU nurses believed that microaspiration can be recognized through clinical experience, sputum examination, and doctor's diagnosis, respectively, whereas only 35.0% (219/626) of ICU nurses had received training related to microaspiration in patients with artificial airway; in addition, 54.2% (339/626) of ICU nurses believed that knowledge related to artificial airway could not meet the demands for clinical works. (2) The total average score of personal obstacle factors of ICU nurses was 2.49±0.86, and the most important obstacle factor was lack of relevant knowledge of individuals. The total average score of organizational obstacle factors of ICU nurses was 3.06±0.78, and the most important obstacle factor was lack of assessment tools and conditions in the department. The total average score of patients obstacle factors of ICU nurses was 2.67±0.75, and the most important obstacle factor was the perception that patient was seriously ill. (3) The total score of assessing obstacle factors for microaspiration in patients with artificial airway of ICU nurses aged ≤ 25 years old was higher than that of ICU nurses aged>25-35 years old and >45 years old (P<0.05). In the aspects of microaspiration occurrence in nursing patients with artificial airway, active assessment of the occurrence states of microaspiration in patients with artificial airway, relevant training receiving on microaspiration in patients with artificial airway, relevant knowledge of microaspiration in patients with artificial airway unsatisfied demands for clinical works, being the same with ICU other complications on degree of emphasis on microaspiration in patients with artificial airway, etc., the total score of assessing obstacle factors for microaspiration of patients with artificial airway in ICU nurses with negative attitude was higher than that in ICU nurses with positive attitude (P<0.05). Conclusion At present, the implementation rate of microaspiration assessment in patients with artificial airway by ICU nurses is low. The main obstacle factors are the lack of relevant knowledge and skills of individuals, and the lack of assessment tools and conditions in the department, etc.

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