Nurses' practices in preventing medical device-related pressure injuries in neonates in Saudi Neonatal Intensive Care...

Neonatal pressure injury due to medical devices is prevalent, especially in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU). Nurses play a significant role in preventing medical device-related pressure injuries (MDRPI) in neonates. However, NICU nurses' practices in preventing MDRPI are not well known in Saudi Arabia.

This study aimed to assess nurses' practices in preventing the MDRPI in the NICU in Saudi Arabia.

A quantitative cross-sectional design was used to capture information from 82 NICU nurses working in two hospitals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (private and governmental). Nurses' practices were assessed using a self-reported questionnaire of two main parts: 1) demographic and work-related factors, and 2) nurses' practices regarding preventing MDRPI. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequencies, percentages, and independent t-tests.

The total practice score for the MDRPI was moderate (3.8/5 ± 1.4). A substantial proportion of nurses never or rarely performed some important practices to prevent MDRPI in the NICU. Nurses who received education/training on pressure ulcers and MDRPI achieved a significantly higher practice score for MDRPI prevention than those who did not (P < 0.05). Nurses who reported having a policy or protocol at their units for MDRPI achieved a significantly higher practice score for MDRPI prevention than those who did not (P < 0.05).

Although the practice score of NICU nurses to prevent MDRPI was moderate, many nurses never or rarely employed some important practices to prevent MDRPI in the NICU. Targeted interventions are needed to educate NICU nurses on MDRPI prevention. Future research should recruit more nurses from various NICUs in Saudi Arabia.