Critical care nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward pressure injury prevention: A pre and post intervention study

Abstract

Objective: To explore nurses' knowledge and attitudes towards pressure injury prevention before and after implementing an educational intervention.

Design/method: A pre-and post-intervention study. Pre-intervention data collection involved administering an instrument, including demographic information, the Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Assessment Tool version 2, and the Attitudes towards Pressure Ulcer Prevention instruments. Following the analysis of pre-intervention data, an educational intervention was implemented. Post-intervention data were collected using the same instrument.

Setting: Intensive care units at three Saudi Arabian hospitals.

Main outcome measures: Nurses' knowledge and attitudes towards pressure injury prevention.

Results: The pre-intervention phase included 190 participants, and the post-intervention phase included 195 participants. Participants completed a paper-based survey at two different time points between June 2021 and March 2022. The mean pre-intervention scores for nurses' knowledge and attitudes towards pressure injury prevention were 43.22% and 74.77%, respectively. Following the educational intervention, the knowledge and attitude scores increased significantly to 51.22% and 79.02%, respectively. Higher knowledge of pressure injury prevention was positively associated with positive attitudes towards prevention practices. Age, clinical nursing experience, and experience in intensive care units were identified as factors correlated with knowledge of pressure injury prevention. A Bachelor's qualification or higher predicted better knowledge and attitudes towards pressure injury prevention.

Conclusions: Nurses' knowledge and attitudes towards pressure injury prevention greatly improved following tailored, evidence-based education. The educational intervention featured multiple on-site bedside discussions, case studies, small-group presentations, and the provision of printed resources.

Implications for clinical practice: Nurses' knowledge and attitudes towards pressure injury prevention should be examined, and education provided to ensure evidence-based prevention practices are implemented. Tailored small-group education sessions delivered conveniently could be an effective approach. Efforts should focus on attracting and retaining experienced, highly qualified nurses to ensure the adoption of evidence-based prevention practices.

Keywords: Attitudes; Critical care; Intensive care; Knowledge; Nurses; Pressure injury; Pressure ulcer; Prevention.