title: Assessment of common interventions and perceived barriers to pressure ulcer prevention in southwest Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the interventions used by nurses to prevent pressure ulcers in 3 hospitals in south west Nigeria and perceived barriers to effective nursing pressure ulcer prevention interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred ninety-three nurses were purposively selected from neurological, orthopedic, intensive care, and accident and emergency units of participating hospitals. Study sites were 3 teaching hospitals in south west Nigeria (Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos; University College Hospital, Ibadan; and Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital Ile-Ife).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected via a structured questionnaire designed for this study. It included 3 sections: demographic information, practices used for pressure ulcer prevention, and perceived barriers to prevention. Sections of the questionnaire that queried interventions and perceived barriers to pressure ulcer prevention were evaluated for face and content validity. Reliability was evaluated via internal consistency; the split half reliability was 0.82.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Similar practices regarding pressure ulcer prevention were found across the 3 hospitals. The most commonly used intervention was patient repositioning every 2 hours; the least used intervention was completion of a validated pressure ulcer risk scale. Nurses described using interventions that have not proved effective for pressure ulcer prevention such as massaging bony prominences and application of talcum powder. Nurses identified 2 principal factors that act as barriers to successful prevention of pressure ulcers: inadequate manpower and inadequate supply of linens on the wards.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses use a combination of evidence-based interventions, along with interventions that have not proved effective for pressure ulcer prevention. We recommend development of national standards for pressure ulcer prevention in Nigeria that are based on current best evidence and consistent with current international guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Rose Ekama Ilesanmi, PhD, RN, FWACN, IIWCC (Stellenbosch), Lecturer, Department of Nursing, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. Prisca Olabisi Adejumo, PhD, RN, FWACN, IIWCC (Stellenbosch), Senior Lecturer, Department of Nursing, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Rose Ekama
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Ilesanmi
authors.forename: Prisca
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Olabisi
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires