Evaluation of final-year nursing students' attitudes towards preventing medical device‐related pressure ulcers using a ABC model of affect, behavior and cognitive dimensions

Introduction

Half of the hospital-acquired pressure ulcers are associated with the use of medical devices. Nursing students provide care services to patients in clinical settings and intensive care units who have or are at risk for medical device-related pressure ulcers (MDRPUs). In the prevention and care of MDRPUs, the attitudes of nursing students towards preventing of pressure ulcers are as crucial as their knowledge level and clinical skills.

Aim

The aim of this descriptive study is to assess the attitudes of final-year nursing undergraduate students towards preventing MDRPUs across cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions of ABC model.

Materials and methods

Data of the study was handed between April 1 and December 31, 2021, with 147 final-year nursing students. Data were collected using the Student Information Form and the Attitude Towards Preventing Medical Device-Related Pressure Ulcers Questionnaire (ATP-MDRPUsQ).

Results

The mean attitude score towards preventing MDRPUs was 3.98 ± 0.45 on a 5-point Likert scale. The mean scores for the cognitive, affective, and behavioral sub-dimensions were 3.88 ± 0.57, 4.15 ± 0.51, and 4.00 ± 0.672, respectively. A moderate positive relationship was found between the cognitive sub-dimension and both the affective and behavioral sub-dimensions (r = 0.451; r = 0.302; p < 0.01, respectively). Based on cluster analysis, the mean attitude scores of students towards MDRPU prevention were grouped into two clusters. The students in Cluster-2 and female students had higher mean attitude scores (p < 0.01). The item with the lowest mean score in the questionnaire pertained to the item, "I believe that I need training on the etiology and prevention of medical device-related pressure ulcers."

Conclusion

The general attitudes of final-year nursing students towards prevention MDRPU were satisfactory. However, their cognitive attitudes were less positive compared to their affective and behavioral attitudes. It is recommended to incorporate theoretical and practical courses focusing on the prevention of these injuries into nursing curricula to enhance students' knowledge and attitudes.