Patients' knowledge of and participation in preventing pressure ulcers- an intervention study

The aim of this study was to evaluate a patient information pamphlet on pressure ulcer (PU) prevention using a descriptive, comparative pre- and post-test study design. The patient information pamphlet 'How can you help to stop pressure ulcers?' developed by the European PU Advisory Panel in 2012 was implemented in two surgical wards in a university hospital. A total of 61 patients answered pre- and post-test questionnaires. Patients assessed their knowledge of the risks, causes and ways to prevent PUs significantly higher after the intervention than before. Twenty-eight patients (46%) reported that they had participated in PU prevention during the last 24 hours. The patients assessed the content of the PU pamphlet as useful, its language as quite easy to understand and its layout as good. Patients with a PU pamphlet during their hospital stay were more knowledgeable about and more active in their own care. It is important that nurses invite patients to be active partners in preventing PUs but also that they identify patients who need to have a more passive role. The PU pamphlet could be updated to increase its comprehensibility, meaningfulness and manageability for patients.