Assessment of nurses' knowledge and practice in prevention and management of deep tissue injury and stage I pressure ulcer.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this descriptive study was to determine nurses' knowledge and usual practice in prevention and management of deep tissue injury (DTI) and stage I pressure ulcers (PUs).


METHODS
The study was conducted in neurology, orthopedics, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, and intensive care units of 3 hospitals located in Ankara, Turkey. These units were selected because they care for patients at risk for developing PUs. The sample comprised 243 nurses.


METHODS
A questionnaire was developed in consultation with wound care experts to measure nurses' knowledge and practice for preventing DTI and stage I PUs. The questionnaire form was provided to nurses who consented to participate in the study; the nurses completed the forms in the presence of the investigator.


RESULTS
The mean score of correct answers was 48.85±11.99 of 100. Significant correlations were found between the percentage of correct answers and level of nursing education, previous experience with PU management, and participation in in-service training programs.


CONCLUSIONS
The nurses in this study tended to lack sufficient knowledge regarding prevention and management of DTI and stage I PUs.
Aydin
Arzu Karadağ
AK
Kafkas University Higher School of Health, Kars, Turkey.
Karadağ
Ayise
A
D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D009733:Nursing Diagnosis / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses'; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000451:nursing* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013041:Specialties, Nursing / Q000193:education; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000451:nursing* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control