KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE OF NURSES TOWARD PREVENTION OF PRESSURE ULCER AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AT INTENSIVE CARE UNITS

Abstract

Background: Pressure ulcers are painful burden for patients of all ages that affect comfort, pain, quality of life, costs and a long stay in hospitals. They might result in a life-threatening situation. The aim of this study: to evaluate nurse’s knowledge, attitude, and practice of pressure ulcer, methods of treatment, and prevention. Design: A descriptive design was used. Setting: This study was conducted in Intensive Care Units at Menoufia University Hospital. Convenient nurses who are caring for pressure ulcer patients in the previously mentioned setting were included in the study (79 nurses) from December, 2023 to March, 2024. An interview structured questionnaire sheet was used to assess nurse’s knowledge, attitude, and practice about pressure ulcer. Results: the mean age ± SD of the studied sample were 33.47± 7.08, more than half of the studied sample had knowledge about pressure ulcer. The majority of nurses routinely assessed risk factors, perform skin care, and evaluate protein & calorie intake (72.2%, 84.8%, and 78.5%, respectively). While, 68.4% of nurses were making schedule of turning position to reduce pressure ulcer formation. less than two-thirds of nurses adhere to turning patients every two hours and utilize formal assessment tools to assess patients for pressure ulcers, with percentages of 63.3% and 65.8%, respectively. Conclusions: The findings indicate that gender, nurses’ education, years of experience, and previous training are significant predictors of pressure ulcer knowledge scores among the studied sample, while age is not.  Recommendation: In-service educational programs are important to upgrade nurses’ knowledge, attitude, and practice to promote patients’ recovery and improve quality of life.