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Surgical Wound Care Practices of Nurses in a Low-Resourced Setting: An Observational Study
Gayani Priyangika Gamage1,2,3, Sanjeewa Seneviratne4, Josephine Lovegrove1,2,5,6
1School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia.
Journal of Clinical Nursing
|July 12, 2026
Summary
Nurses in Sri Lanka showed limited adherence to surgical wound care guidelines, with significant variations in practice. Resource constraints and lack of standardized protocols contributed to these issues.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Practice
- Surgical Wound Care
- Healthcare Quality
Background:
- Surgical wound care is critical for patient recovery.
- Adherence to clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) ensures optimal outcomes.
- Understanding current practices in diverse healthcare settings is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To observe and describe the surgical wound care practices of nurses.
- To identify adherence levels to CPGs in a Sri Lankan tertiary care hospital.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional observational study was conducted.
- Data collected via observation tools and chart audits in surgical wards.
- Registered nurses and postoperative patients were sampled.
Main Results:
- Hand hygiene adherence was suboptimal (58.4% before, 43.2% after dressing changes).
- Wound care education (22%) and documentation (21.2%) were infrequent.
- Lack of standardized protocols and resource constraints were noted.
Conclusions:
- Nurses demonstrated limited adherence to CPGs for surgical wound care.
- Significant variations in practice exist, influenced by training, staffing, and resources.
- Context-sensitive protocols and targeted training are recommended.
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