[Knowledge of nurses about compression therapy. Survey about treatment of acute deep venous thrombosis]

Compression therapy is an established method to treat acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in clinical practice. The aim ofthis study was to clarify the extent to which current guidelines for the treatment of acute DVT and results of the studies done in this field, particularly in terms of compression therapy, are considered in training courses for nursing staff and patients. All hospitals in Saxony-Anhalt using primary diagnosis and therapy for DVT (n=34) had been informed about a survey in summer 2007 and the nursing staff of angiology and internal wards in these hospitals were asked to take part in the survey. Data was collected with the help of a questionnaire that had been designed and tested for its validity in a specialised hospital. 510 questionnaires were distributed (15/ hospital). The response rate of questionnaires was 69 percent. The acute DVT is part of the nursing training. 92.3 percent of the nursing staff said that they have discussed DVT and 91.5 percent said that they have learned different techniques of compression bandage. 89,2 percent of the nursing staff indicated that they practiced applying compression bandages under the guidance of a teacher. Significant deficits were visible in transferring the knowledge of evidence-based medicine and nursing. The recommended Fischer-Bandage was only taught exceptionally in theory (1.7 percent) and practice (1.9 percent). 47.1 percent of the nursing staff took part in continued training for compression therapy. Patient trainings were only carried out in 18.1 percent. The treatment of acute DVT plays an important role in the nursing training. The compression bandage that is recommended in guidelines and studies should be effectively taught and implemented in nursing education and training of patients.