Pressure ulcer prevention: evaluation of an education programme for Swedish nurses

To investigate the effect of an education programme for 20 registered nurses on the following three areas: nurses' knowledge of pressure ulcer risk and prevention; nursing documentation of ulcer prevention; routine use of prevention strategies.

The study had a quasi-experimental design. Data were collected immediately before and after the education programme and at eight-month follow-up. To measure knowledge of pressure ulcer management, a questionnaire was distributed to course participants (n = 19) pre- and post-education. Nursing documentation (n = 138) was audited pre- and post-education. To gain information on the routine use of prevention strategies, head nurses (n = 20) were interviewed and the patients' care environment (n = 21) was observed pre-education, while a nurse questionnaire was completed (n = 15) at the eight-month follow-up.

In relation to pressure ulcer prevention, nurses' knowledge, documentation and ward routines were unsatisfactory before the education programme. However, the eight-month follow-up showed that 11 nurses (55%) had implemented new ward routines. Documentation was still lacking after the programme, although it was more detailed.

The education programme succeeded in encouraging and empowering the nurses to change clinical practice.