Explore the Level of Awareness, Perception and Utilization of Pressure Ulcer Prevention among Health Professionals, Ayder Referral Hospital, 2013

Gebre Yitayih; Wilbert G. Panerio; Kibrom Birhane G/Slassie; Melaku Molla

doi:10.37591/rrjooh.v5i1.1378

Abstract

Pressure ulcer can have a major impact on both the individual and health care system and produce a significant burden on patients, relatives and caregivers like that of increased distress, increased pain, unable to return to normal life functions, reduced quality of life, increased risk of infections, increased mortality risk etc. The objective of the study was to determine the level awareness, perception and practice towards pressure ulcer prevention among nursing professionals of Ayder Referral Hospital. An institutional based cross-sectional quantitative study was employed to 340 nursing professionals of Ayder Referral Hospital. The study participants were selected by systematic sampling. A researcher-made questionnaire was pre-tested and given to respondents. Data were entered and analyzed manually and then presented in tables. The study was conducted from April–June, 2013. Twenty-nine (29) articles were included. The participants of the study were nurses with diploma, bachelors, and master’s degree. From these, over half of the respondents were females that accounts 57.4%, and 80.2% of the respondents were BSc degree holders, 17.2% were diploma the rest were masters. The training level has an influence over the knowledge index. Knowing immobility and loading pressure risk factors for pressure ulcer were (76.5%), the level of knowledge about Braden scale (36.4%) to assess pressure ulcer were very low, the significance of topical cream, positioning and the use of pillow under the leg or the ulcer area (74.1%) the patients were moderate. The knowledge of pressure ulcer prevention was found to be low. When it came to the attitude of pressure ulcer prevention, the study participants believed that all patients were at risk of pressure ulcer (78.4%), nursing could provide nursing care to prevent pressure ulcer (82.7%), and (87.6%) believed that practicing prevention of pressure ulcer was an indicator of quality of nursing care. In short, the attitude of pressure ulcer prevention was high almost above (80%) and the practicing part of the nurses about prevention of pressure ulcer was moderate in Ayder Referral Hospital. Keywords: Pressure ulcer prevention, nurses’ knowledge, nurses’ attitude, nurses’ practiceCite this ArticleGebre Yitayih Abyu, Panerio Wilbert G, Kibrom Birhane G/Slassieet al. Explore the Level of Awareness, Perception and Utilization of Pressure Ulcer Prevention among Health Professionals, Ayder Referral Hospital, 2013. Research and Reviews: Journal of Oncology and Hematology. 2016; 5(1): 24–29p.