How does the training given to intensive care nurses affect their attitudes toward preventing pressure ulcers?

The study aimed to determine the effect of training in the prevention/treatment of pressure ulcers on nurses' attitudes.

The study was conducted experimentally in a pretest-posttest design. Training was given to nurses participating in the study with content prepared by "Wound and Ostomy Incontinence Nurses Association" guide. The study was conducted between August and October with nurses working in Level 3 intensive care units. The study was completed with 79 nurses. Before the training was given, the "Nurse Introduction Form" and " Attitude Towards Pressure Ulcer Prevention Instrument (ATPUPI)" form were applied to those. All nurses were re-administered the ATPUPI scale three months after the training to evaluate their attitudes. Frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and independent sample tests were used in statistical analyses.

The mean age of the nurses was 29.62 ± 5.74 years, the mean length of service was 71.77 ± 77.19 months, 94.9 % were graduates, and 82.3 % worked in shifts. The mean scores before the training were 44.53 ± 4.13 and 45.12 ± 2.53 after the training. It was determined that there was a significant difference between the nurses who did not receive training on pressure ulcers other than undergraduate education and those who obtained training in terms of the mean score of ATPUPI. Still, after the training, the mean scores reached a similar level, and this difference disappeared. The increase in the mean scores of those who did not receive any education other than undergraduate education was found to be statistically significant.

As a result of our study, intensive care nurses' attitudes toward preventing pressure ulcers were found to be at a high level. It was found that the training given to nurses who had not received training on pressure ulcers other than undergraduate education had a significant positive effect on their attitudes. According to this result, it is recommended that in-service training should be given from the moment they start intensive care and repeated at regular intervals to ensure continuity in knowledge, attitude, and care behavior.