A prospective evaluation of a pressure ulcer prevention and management E-Learning Program for adults with spinal cord injury.
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.
Brace
Jacalyn A
JA
Roxborough Memorial Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. jb3130@hotmail.com
Schubart
Jane R
JR
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*