Intensive Care and Operating Room Nurses' Knowledge Regarding Skin Tears

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Patient Safety
• Wound Care

Background:

• Skin tears are common yet under-recognized injuries, particularly in intensive care and surgical settings.
• Vulnerable patient populations in critical care environments are at high risk for skin tears.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current knowledge levels of operating room and intensive care unit nurses regarding skin tear management.
• To identify factors influencing nurses' understanding of skin tears.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive study involving 157 nurses (81 ICU, 76 OR) using the Skin Tear Knowledge Assessment Instrument (OASES).
• Data collected via face-to-face surveys and analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential tests (t-tests, ANOVA, regression).

Main Results:

• Nurses demonstrated suboptimal knowledge, with mean OASES scores of 10.12 (ICU) and 11.15 (OR) out of 20.
• Higher scores were significantly associated with longer clinical experience (≥7 years), master's degrees, perceived competence, prior experience with skin tears, and specific training.
• Linear regression confirmed education status and clinical experience as significant positive predictors of skin tear knowledge.

Conclusions:

• Nurses' knowledge regarding skin tears is insufficient, highlighting a gap in critical care and surgical nursing practice.
• Clinical experience and educational background are key determinants of nurses' knowledge about skin tears.
• Addressing these knowledge deficits is crucial for improving patient care and preventing skin tears in high-risk units.