title: Course content related to chronic wounds in nursing degree programs in Spain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze content related to chronic wounds in nursing degree programs in Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Course descriptions available for online access during June and July of 2012 were reviewed for the 114 centers in Spain that offer a nursing degree, according to the official Registry of Universities, Centers, and Titles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 114 centers with degree programs, 95 (83.3%) post course content online, which make it possible to analyze 2,258 courses. In 60 (63.1%) of these centers, none of the courses included the concept of pressure ulcer prevention, and the course content posted by 36 (37.9%) centers made no mention of their treatment. None of the course descriptions contained any reference to pain management in patients with chronic wounds. Of the 728 elective courses analyzed, only one was related to chronic wounds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review of available information about nursing degree programs in Spain indicates that pain management in patients with chronic wounds is not addressed in any course, and more courses consider the treatment of pressure ulcers than their prevention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Degree programs responsible for the training of future nurses should be reviewed and revised as needed to ensure that graduates have acquired minimum basic competencies in the prevention and treatment of chronic wounds that help to decrease the theory-practice gap in this field.
authors.affiliation: Professor of Nursing, Nursing Department, University of Girona, Spain.
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romero-Collado
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raurell-Torreda
authors.forename: Edurne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zabaleta-del-Olmo
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Homs-Romero
authors.forename: Carme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bertran-Noguer
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D059408:Pain Management / Q000451:nursing; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000451:nursing; D013030:Spain; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000451:nursing*
keywords: Curriculum; Spain; nursing education research; nursing students; pressure ulcer; professional competence; wound healing