Pressure ulcer prevention in nursing homes: views and beliefs of enrolled nurses and other health care workers.
BACKGROUND In the Netherlands much attention has been paid to pressure ulcer prevention. National guidelines on pressure ulcer prevention were developed in 1985 and adapted in 1992 at the request of a national organization for quality assurance in health care. Several studies indicate that nurses seem to be insufficiently informed about pressure ulcer preventive activities. There is, however, no information available about the reasons why nurses seem to be insufficiently informed.


OBJECTIVE
This study was planned to elucidate the views and beliefs of health care workers (especially enrolled nurses) in Dutch nursing homes about pressure ulcer prevention and about issues related with pressure ulcer prevention.


METHODS
A qualitative study with semi-structured, tape-recorded interviews.


METHODS
Interviews were conducted with enrolled nurses, team leaders, head nurses, staff nurses and physicians. The interviews were coded and analysed.


RESULTS
Analysis of the interviews revealed that today's pressure ulcer preventive activities are very much based on old traditions in nursing. It also showed that enrolled nurses have no intention to change the care they deliver with regard to pressure ulcer prevention.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that a systematic approach is necessary to change nursing thinking and acting with regard to pressure ulcer prevention.


CONCLUSIONS
This study gives an overview of the views and beliefs of health care workers (especially enrolled nurses) in Dutch nursing homes about pressure ulcer prevention. These views and beliefs can be used as a starting point for effective implementation of guidelines regarding the prevention of pressure ulcers.
Department of Health Care Studies, Section Nursing Science, University Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Inge C
IC
Buss
Ruud J G
RJ
Halfens
Huda Huyer
HH
Abu-Saad
Gerjo
G
Kok
D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D009426:Netherlands; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000592:standards*; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000517:prevention & control*