title: A prospective evaluation of a pressure ulcer prevention and management E-Learning Program for adults with spinal cord injury.
abstract: Pressure ulcers are a common complication of spinal cord injury (SCI). Pressure ulcer education programs for spinal cord injured individuals have been found to have a positive effect on care protocol adherence. A prospective study was conducted among hospitalized spinal cord-injured men and women to determine if viewing the Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Management Education for Adults with Spinal Cord Injury: E-Learning Program affects their knowledge scores. A 20-question multiple-choice pre-/post learning test was developed and validated by 12 rehabilitation nurses. Twenty (20) patients (13 men, seven women; mean age 49 years, [SD: 18.26] with injuries to the cervical [seven], thoracic [six], and lumbar [six] regions) volunteered. Most (42%) had completed high school and time since SCI ranged from 2 weeks to 27 years. Eighteen (18) participants completed both the pre- and post test. Of those, 16 showed improvement in pressure ulcer knowledge scores. The median scores improved from 65 (range 25 to 100) pre-program to 92.5 (range 75 to 100) post-program. Descriptive statistics, Student's t-test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze the data. The results suggest that a single viewing of this e-learning program could improve pressure ulcer knowledge of hospitalized adults with SCI. Research to ascertain the effects of this and other educational programs on pressure ulcer rates is needed.
authors: Roxborough Memorial Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. jb3130@hotmail.com
authors: Jacalyn A
authors: JA
authors: Brace
authors: Jane R
authors: JR
authors: Schubart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*