Nurses' attitudes towards pressure ulcer prevention in Turkey

Abstract

Background: Pressure ulcers remain a major problem in healthcare system. Pressure ulcer incidence is widely accepted as an indicator for the quality of care. Positive attitudes towards pressure ulcer prevention have positive impacts on preventive care.

Aims and objectives: The aim of this study was to identify nurses' attitude towards pressure ulcer prevention.

Design: The study design was descriptive.

Setting and sample: The study was carried out in a university hospital in Izmir, Turkey. The study population consisted of 660 nurses who work in medical and surgical clinics and intensive care units. The study sample consisted of 426 nurses who agreed to participate.

Method: Attitude towards Pressure Ulcer Prevention Instrument was used in order to evaluate nurses' attitudes. Written permissions for ethical considerations and Attitude towards Pressure Ulcer Prevention Instrument permission were obtained. Data were collected between June and July 2014. The statistics program SPSS 18 packaged software was used in the analyses of data.

Results: The average age of the nurses who took part in the study was 31.86 ± 7.09 years and the average work experience was 8.88 ± 7.41 years; 36.9% (n: 157) were working in intensive care units. The nurses' average score on the Attitude towards Pressure Ulcer Prevention Instrument was 43.74 ± 4.29 (84.12%).

Conclusion: It was seen that the attitudes of the nurses towards the prevention of pressure ulcers was positive. To read guidelines and training time about pressure ulcer prevention affect positively attitudes towards the prevention of pressure ulcers.

Keywords: Attitude; Nursing; Pressure ulcer; Prevention.