Nurses’ knowledge and Practice Regarding Prevention and Early Detection of Pressure Ulcers in Damanhur National Medical Institute: Developing protocol

Abstract

Background: Pressure ulcers are common and one of the most serious disorders that may \noccur to patients during hospitalization. Previous studies have shown education and knowledge \naffect the implementation of interventions which are one of the main responsibilities of nursing \nstaff and the administrative authority for improving the quality of nursing care and decreasing \npatients morbidity. Aim of the study: Assessment of nurses knowledge and practice regarding \nprevention and early detection of pressure ulcer, developing protocol for prevention and early \ndetection of pressure ulcer for nurses in Damanhur National Medical Institute. Research \nquestions: What are the nurses’ knowledge regarding the prevention and early detection of \npressure ulcers in Damanhur National Medical Institute? What are the nurses’ practices regarding \nthe prevention and early detection of pressure ulcers in Damanhur National Medical Institute? Do \nnurses need protocol for prevention and early detection of pressure ulcers in Damanhur National \nMedical Institute? Research design: A descriptive cross-sectional research design was \nused. Setting: Study was conducted at Damanhur National Medical Institute El Behaira \ngovernorate from the orthopedic, neurology unit and intensive care unit. Subjects: Finite sample, \nin total 111 nurses out of 140 nurses who work in orthopedic, neurology and intensive care \nunits. Tool: One tool was used for data collection and consisted of four parts. The self\x02 \nadministered questionnaire was designed for data collection of all the four parts. Results: The \nmean score of nurses’ practice on screening for pressure ulcer risk was less than half comparing \nto mean of nurses assessment of unit care plan for prevention of pressure ulcer which got a \nmaximum score. The mean general nurses’ knowledge of pressure ulcer prevention was more \nthan one third. Conclusion: the present study finding concluded that: there were significant \nrelations between nurses’ knowledge, practice, and unit care plan. Recommendation: Included \nphysicians, patients, and family in the nursing care plan.