Knowledge about pressure ulcer prevention, classification and management: A survey of registered nurses working with trauma patients in the emergency department

One group of patients who are at risk of pressure ulcer development is trauma patients. The present study aimed to examine trauma nurses’ knowledge about pressure ulcer prevention, classification and management. In a cross sectional exploratory study all qualified registered nurses working with trauma patients in the emergency department (ED) of Kashani and Bahonar hospitals, Iran were invited to participate. To assess the nurses’ knowledge about pressure ulcer prevention classification and management Pieper’s Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Test (PPUKT) was used. Of 185 eligible nurses, 159 participated in the study (response rate of 86%). Of these, 80.5% (n=128) were women and 19.5% (n=31) were men. The mean years of nurses’ experience was 10.3±7.2years. The percentage of correctly answered questions was 64.6%. Nurses had the highest level of knowledge in the section about wound characteristics (77.3%) and the lowest level in the section about pressure ulcer onset (57%). This is the first study that specifically examines trauma nurses knowledge about pressure ulcer prevention, classification and management. According to the results, nurses did not have sufficient knowledge about pressure ulcer prevention, classification and management. There is a need to improve their knowledge with educational programs.