Orthopaedic nurses' knowledge about pressure ulcers in Iran: a cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Wound Care
• Healthcare Education

Background:

• Pressure ulcers pose a significant challenge in orthopaedic care.
• Effective nursing knowledge is crucial for pressure ulcer prevention and management.
• Assessing current knowledge levels informs targeted educational interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the knowledge of nurses regarding pressure ulcers in an Iranian orthopaedic setting.
• Identify specific areas of strength and weakness in nurses' understanding of pressure ulcers.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study utilizing the Pieper's Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Test (PUKT).
• Self-report questionnaires administered to orthopaedic nurses in two Iranian teaching hospitals.
• Data collected on nurses' knowledge across pressure ulcer classification, onset, wound characteristics, and prevention.

Main Results:

• A response rate of 84% (57 out of 68 nurses) was achieved.
• The overall correct response rate was 70.1%.
• Nurses exhibited the highest knowledge in prevention and the lowest in classification and onset; no correlation was found with years of experience.

Conclusions:

• Orthopaedic nurses in Iran possess insufficient knowledge regarding pressure ulcers.
• There is a clear need for specialized educational programs to enhance nurses' understanding.
• Improving knowledge is essential for effective pressure ulcer prevention and patient outcomes.