Evaluating Nurses' Knowledge of Pressure Injury Prevention: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate nurses' knowledge on pressure injury (PI) prevention.

METHODS: Four hundred six nurses in Turkey participated in this descriptive study between January and February 2020. Participants completed an information form and the Pressure Ulcer Prevention Knowledge Assessment Instrument (PUPKAI). The PUPKAI contains 26 items across six themes: (1) development, (2) classification and observation, (3) risk assessment, (4) nutrition, (5) interventions to reduce the amount of pressure/rupture, and (6) interventions to reduce the duration of pressure/rupture.

RESULTS: The mean age of the nurses was 26.93 +/- 6.72 years. The mean total PUPKAI score was 11.80 +/- 3.28. Almost all participants (91.6%) had insufficient knowledge on PI prevention. Male nurses scored higher on themes 1 and 2 than female nurses (P = .046, P = .029, respectively). Nurses with a postgraduate degree scored higher in total and on themes 2, 3, 5, and 6 (P = .001, P = .006, P = .011, P = .044, P = .029, respectively), and nurses with more than 10 years of service scored higher in total and on themes 4, 5, and 6 (P = .001, P = .002, P = .001. P = .026, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: The nurses who participated in this study do not have enough knowledge on PI prevention.