Intensive care unit nurses' perceived barriers towards pressure ulcer prevention in south east Iran

Pressure ulcer (PU) prevention is one of the most important roles of nurses in intensive care units (ICUs). This study was conducted to identify intensive care registered nurses' perceived barriers towards PU prevention in south east Iran.

This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. A convenience sample consisted of registered nurses working in trauma intensive care units affliated by Zahedan Medical University participated in this study. Data were collected using the barriers to providing prevention of pressure ulcers quesionnaire.

The response rate was 100 % (n=88), although not all participants answered every question. The results showed that 78% were women. The mean age of participants was 30.2 years. The item 'heavy workload/staff shortage' perceived highest barrier towards pressure ulcer prevention (mean±standard deviation (SD): 3.37 ± 0.66). The item 'uncooperative patients' achieved the lowest perceived barriers score (mean ± SD: 2.65 ± 0.75). Nurses who had more nursing experience in an ICU setting perceived barriers more than those with less nursing experience in ICU setting. Those who had no previous exposure to PU prevention education perceived barriers more than those had previous exposure to PU prevention education.

Understanding ntensive care registered nurses' perceptions of PU prevention barriers will enable nurse leaders to develop a variety of intensive teaching to disseminate information about these barriers.