Knowledge and Attitude of Nursing Students on the Prevention of Pressure Ulcers

Abstract

Pressure ulcers (PU) are still a serious complication of immobility and a source of frustration for healthcare providers. Until now, the rate of occurrence and prevalence are alarmingly high. Nurses' knowledge and attitudes play a critical role in prevention of PU. The purpose of this study was to find out the level of knowledge and attitudes of final-year nursing students towards prevention of PU. A quantitative, exploratory cross-sectional design was used with fifty final-year students being recruited at random using a simple random sample technique. The tool had three sections: socio-demographic data of nursing students, PUKAT (Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Assessment Tool), and APuP (Attitudes towards Pressure Ulcers Prevention tool). According to the findings of this study, the average knowledge score of final year nursing students was 48.7% (Mean = 14.85; SD=6.01). Only 18 (36%) nurses got a score of 60% or above on the PUKAT assessment instrument, which is regarded as satisfactory. Though there was a positive attitude prevailed among final year nursing students on prevention of PU, only 44 % of responders (n = 22) attained the satisfactory score. Also, there was a moderate correlation between knowledge and attitude of the nursing students on prevention of PU. Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Nursing Students, Prevention, Pressure Ulcers