Nurses' attitudes towards pressure ulcer prevention in Turkey

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Pressure ulcers are a significant healthcare challenge, with incidence rates reflecting the quality of patient care.
• Positive attitudes among healthcare professionals are crucial for effective pressure ulcer prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess nurses' attitudes regarding the prevention of pressure ulcers.
• To identify factors influencing nurses' attitudes towards pressure ulcer prevention.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive study design.
• Data collected from 426 nurses in a Turkish university hospital using the Attitude towards Pressure Ulcer Prevention Instrument.
• Statistical analysis performed using SPSS 18.

Main Results:

• The average score on the Attitude towards Pressure Ulcer Prevention Instrument was 43.74 ± 4.29 (84.12%).
• Nurses' average age was 31.86 ± 7.09 years, with an average of 8.88 ± 7.41 years of work experience.
• 36.9% of participating nurses worked in intensive care units.

Conclusions:

• Nurses generally exhibit positive attitudes towards pressure ulcer prevention.
• Reading guidelines and dedicated training time positively influence nurses' attitudes toward pressure ulcer prevention.