Volume 24, Issue 106, November - December, 2020

Nurses’ knowledge to pressure ulcer prevention at Hail hospitals in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Salwa Abd El Gawad Sallam¹, Lea L. Dando^1♦, Anamarie M. Velitario¹, Anna Liza A. Pardinas¹, Mildred L. Dizon¹, Jerold C. Alcantara ²

¹Medical-Surgical Department, College of Nursing, University of Hail, Saudi Arabia
²Clinical Laboratory Science Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Hail, Saudi Arabia

^♦Corresponding author
College of Nursing, University of Hail, PO Box 2440 Hail, Saudi Arabia; Email: lea_dando@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Background: Routine knowledge assessment ensures that nurses are guided on relevant and recent evidence-based practices to consistently provide efficient and safe patient care. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses assigned in the intensive care unit, male intermediate care unit, female intermediate care unit, and convalescent ward. The Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Assessment Tool (PUKAT) 2.0 was used in the study. Results: The total mean knowledge score was 40.53% (SD 9.72). Of the 114 participants, only 1.8% (2) scored a satisfactory rate of ≥60%. Analysis by theme showed that the highest score was from ‘risk assessment’ with a mean score of 52.63%, while the least score was from ‘prevention of pressure ulcers’ with 23.68%. There were no significant differences found on mean scores when samples were grouped according to characteristics. Conclusions: Findings of the study demonstrate knowledge gaps of nurses on pressure ulcer prevention. Unsatisfactory scores were noted specifically on the guidelines of preventing pressure ulcers, particularly in the effective techniques of positioning and repositioning, and the use of preventive devices.

Keywords: Nurses’ knowledge, pressure ulcer, pressure ulcer prevention, PUKAT 2.0

Medical Science, 2020, 24(106), 4040-4052

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