Nurses' knowledge of prevention and management of pressure ulcer at a health insurance hospital in Alexandria

Int J Nurs Pract. 2011 Jun;17(3):262-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-172X.2011.01933.x.

Abstract

Nurses' knowledge of pressure ulcer prediction, prevention and management plays a very important role in the incidence and prevalence of pressure ulcers in health-care systems. The aim of the current study was to assess the nurse's knowledge about prevention and management of pressure ulcer at one of the largest health insurance hospitals in Alexandria. A descriptive cross-sectional study using an interview questionnaire format to assess the nurses' knowledge (n = 122) regarding prevention of pressure ulcers. The overall mean per cent score for nurses was below the minimum acceptable level. The mean per cent score for nurses was below 70% for nine measures of the 15 correct measures, which accounted for 60% of the measures of pressure ulcer prevention. Correct answers for non-useful measures for preventing pressure ulcers accounted for 66% of the non-useful measures on the questionnaire. It had been concluded that the nurses' knowledge regarding pressure ulcer prevention is below the acceptable levels.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Clinical Competence*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Egypt
  • Humans
  • Pressure Ulcer / nursing*
  • Pressure Ulcer / prevention & control*
  • Young Adult