Pressure ulcer is largely avoidable, but its prevalence rate increased more than 80% in a 13 years study. Nurses have a great position to advance best practices towards the prevention of pressure ulcers. Therefore they should be knowledgeable of the signs and symptoms of pressure ulcers, and preventive strategies to reduce its incidence, but there is limited evidence on nurses’ knowledge and its associated factors to prevent pressure ulcers in Ethiopia.
Methods
A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 25 – April 23/ 2018. A total of 356 nurses were selected by stratification with a simple random sampling technique. Pretested structured questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions was used to collect data. Frequency distribution and percentage were computed to describe each variable. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression with a 95% confidence interval was also carried out to see the effect of each independent variable on the dependent variable and declared statistically significant association with P < 0.05.
Result
The mean knowledge score of nurses was 25.22 out of 41 item questions. Fifty-two point 5 % of nurses score above the mean. Males [AOR = 0.44, 95% CI (0.26–0.73)], working a maximum of eight hours [AOR = 3.57, 95% CI (1.48–8.61), not having training [(AOR = 2.31, 95% CI (1.14–4.61)], Low salary [AOR = 3.47, 95% CI (1.03–11.67)] were significantly associated with inadequate knowledge.
Conclusion
Generally a nurse’s knowledge of pressure ulcers was inadequate. Being female, working less than or equal to eight hours, not having the training and low working salary are contributors to a low level of knowledge for pressure ulcers.
Hinweise
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Abkürzungen
AOR
Adjusted Odds Ratio
COR
Crude Odds Ratio
ENT
Ear Nose Throat
EPUAP
European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel
HAPU
Hospital-Acquired Pressure Ulcer
HUCSH
Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital
ICU
Intensive Care Unit
NICU
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
NPUAP
National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel
OPD
Out Patient Department
PU
Pressure Ulcer
PZ-PUKT
Pieper-Zulkowski Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Test
SNNPR
Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region
SPSS
Statistical Package for Social Sciences
Background
Pressure ulcers are described as ‘localized injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue, usually over a bony prominence, as a result of pressure or pressure in combination with shear [1‐4]. Pressure ulcers are classified in four stages by tissue layer affected ranging from skin erythema to damage to muscle and underlying bone, and which vary in size and severity of tissue damage [2].
A cross-sectional study conducted at Felegehiwot and Dessie referral hospital, in Ethiopia reported 16.8 and 14.9% overall prevalence rate of PU, respectively [5, 6]. While caregivers practice the best care every time, patients can avoid needless suffering [7]. Pressure area care is an essential component of nursing practice, with all patients potentially at risk of developing a pressure ulcer [8].
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Annually more than 2.5 million patients develop pressure ulcers in the United States of America alone [9]. Management of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers costs billions of dollars each year; for a single individual with a diagnosis of pressure ulcer costs nearly 129,000$ on average [10]. A pressure ulcer is largely avoidable, but in a 13 years study, its prevalence rate increased more than 80% [11]. A comparative study conducted in Norwegian and Irish sites shows that PU prevalence was 54% in the Norwegian and 12% in the Irish site [12]. Another study done in Sweden revealed that the 21 different countries prevalence ranged from 9 to 31% [13]. A similar study conducted in Ethiopia indicates that off total among total admitted patients 16.8% of them had a pressure ulcer [5].
Hospitals need to devote more resources to prevent and manage pressure ulcers. Professionals should also meet their responsibility to provide continuous nursing and medical education to staff about pressure ulcers [14].
Adequate application of incontinence management and measures are taken to prevent skin damage, such as preventive skincare based on principles of cleansing, enhancing the skin’s moisture barrier, and regular turning and repositioning along with protection [15]. Timely and accurate assessment of pressure ulcers depends on individual need, with education on skin and risk assessment forming a key component [16].
Nurses have a great position to advance best practices towards the prevention of PU. Therefore they are in need to be knowledgeable about the signs and symptoms of pressure ulcers, and preventive strategies to reduce its incidence [16]. But according to a study conducted across the globe nurses do not have sufficient knowledge about pressure ulcer prevention, classification, and management [17]. Studies in Nepal revealed that only 59% of nurses had adequate knowledge about pressure ulcer prevention [18]. A similar study conducted in North West Ethiopia shows nearly half 54.4% of the nurses had good knowledge of pressure ulcer prevention [19].
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The prevalence of pressure ulcers decreased if the patient is assessed for the risk of pressure ulcer upon his/her admission and if a regular assessment is followed by appropriate action or intervention [20]. Providing sufficient education, a positive attitude, and addressing barriers are all important aspects to improve the knowledge and use of pressure ulcer preventive measures among nursing staff [21]. Understands nurses’ knowledge about pressure ulcer prevention, classification, and management is important to improve their knowledge of pressure ulcer prevention.
Justification of the study
PU is a major significant and complex problem in hospitals in terms of human suffering, tissue necrosis, pain, septicemia, disfigurement, loss of productivity, and financial burden. Nurses have typically expended most of their time with the patients. Therefore nurses have a pivotal position and role to prevent and manage pressure ulcers by correcting interdisciplinary teamwork. So nurses require complete knowledge to prevent and monitor all conditions associated with pressure ulcer occurrences.
To my best search, there is limited evidence on nurses’ knowledge and its associated factors towards pressure ulcer prevention in Ethiopia as general, and there has been no published data particularly in the study area. Therefore, information emanating from this study will be a valuable reason for the future in developing appropriate educational strategies and training in this area.
Objectives
General objective
To assess Nurses’ knowledge towards pressure ulcer prevention, and its associated factors in Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Hawassa, Ethiopia, 2018.
Specific objectives
To determine knowledge of nurses’ on pressure ulcer prevention at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Hawassa, Ethiopia, 2018.
To identify factors associated with the knowledge of nurses on pressure ulcer prevention at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Hawassa, Ethiopia, 2018.
Methods
Study design, area and period
The institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from March 25 – April 23/ 2018. The study was conducted in Hawassa University comprehensive specialized Hospital, Hawassa. Hawassa is found in southern Ethiopia, on the shores of Lake Hawassa in the great rift valley; 273 km South of Addis Ababa via Debre Zeit and 1125 km North of Nairobi. Currently, Hawassa town has one comprehensive specialized hospital, one regional hospital, and eight government health centers. Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital is a teaching Hospital that gives services for more than five million people including Sidama zone and peoples of the neighboring zones and regions. In this teaching hospital, there are multidisciplinary professionals with different specialties are found, among them the big number is taken by nurses, nearly five hundred nurses currently serving in different units and office in the hospital.
Source and study population
The source population was all nurses working at Hawassa university comprehensive specialized hospital. The study subjects were those nurses working at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital during the data collection period.
Inclusion and exclusion criteria
All permanent staff nurses working at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital who were available during the study period were included in the study.
Sample size determination and sampling procedure
Sample size
The sample size determined by using a single population proportion formula and considering the following assumptions: nurses knowledge on pressure ulcer prevention 36.15 [21]. = standard normal distribution value at 95% confidence level of Zα/2 = 1.96 and margin of error (d) = 5%.
The final sample size was determined considering a 10% non-response rate, the total sample size was 391 nurses.
Sampling procedures
Stratification with a Simple random sampling method was used to select the study subjects after proportional allocation for each working ward/unit. The study participants were selected from each ward/unit by a simple random sampling technique from the list of nurses in each stratum (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1
Diagrammatic representation of the sampling procedure. Where Ni = the number of nurses working at each unit/ward, nf = the final sample size (356), N = total number of nurses working at HUCSH, Ethiopia, 2018
×
Operational definitions
Good knowledge: Nurses, who scored above the mean score of the knowledge questions towards pressure ulcer
Poor knowledge: Nurses, who scored mean and above the mean of the knowledge questions towards pressure ulcer [19].
Data collection tools and procedures
Self-administer structured questionnaire containing both closed and open-ended questions were used to collect data. The data was collected from March 25 – April 23/ 2018. The question focused on Nurse’s knowledge, perceived barrier, work-related factors, and socio-demographic characteristics towards pressure ulcer prevention. Knowledge of nurses was assessed by 41 true/false questions and by using Pieper-Zulkowski Pressure Ulcer knowledge test (PZ-PUKT) [23], in its version adapted and validated to Brazil [24]. Perceived barrier questions that include un Proportionate nurse to patient ratio, Lack of guidelines, Shortage of time, Limited resource, Patient factors, Lack of evidence supported by research, Lack of training, lack of job satisfaction, Lack of knowledge were assessed by using a 5 item Likert scale (ranging from strongly agreed, 5 to strongly disagree, 1) adapted from different published literature [14, 19, 25, 26].
Data quality control, processing, and analysis
To keep the quality of the collected data all possible attempts were made starting from the development of a data collection instrument to completeness checking of the filled questionnaires. The questionnaire was pre-tested on 20 (5%) nurses who were working at Gondar University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, 1 week before the initiation of the main study. And necessary corrections were made and the questions were simplified based on the pretest findings. To ensure the quality of data collection, orientation training about the data collection process was given for data collectors.
EPI-INFO version 7 statistical software was used for data entry. Then it was exported to SPSS version 20.0 for analysis. Frequency distribution and the percentage were computed to describe each variable. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to determine the association of independent variables with the nurse’s knowledge of pressure ulcer prevention. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was calculated, the variables that are found with P < 0.2 at bivariate analysis were entered to multivariable analysis and statistical significance was declared at p-value less than 0.05. Finally, results were presented using tables and figures.
Results
Socio-demographic characteristics of respondents
Overall, among 532 nurses who were working regularly at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital 391 nurses were selected for the study and 356 (91.05%) responded to the question, 35 nurses refused to respond the self-administered questionnaire. Of all 185 (52%) were females. The mean age of the study subjects was 27.39 years, 80.30% were aged less than 30 years and above 39 years. The Amhara ethnic group comprised 28.7% of the study subjects followed by Oromo (14%). Nearly half of the study subjects were orthodox by religion (46.30%), followed by protestant (Table 1).
Table 1
Socio-demographic characteristics of nurses towards pressure ulcer prevention at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, 2018
Characteristics (n = 356)
Frequency
Percent
Sex
356
100.00
Male
171
48.00
Female
185
52.00
Age
20–29
286
80.30
30–39
61
17.10
> 39
9
2.50
Ethnicity
Sidama
46
12.90
Amhara
102
28.70
Wolaita
39
11.00
Oromo
50
14.00
Tigrie
21
5.90
Gurage
40
11.2
Others
58
16.3
Religion
Protestant
162
45.50
Orthodox
165
46.30
Muslim
16
4.50
Catholic
5
1.40
Other
8
2.20
Marital status
Single
190
53.40
Married
163
45.80
Divorced
2
0.60
Widowed
1
0.30
Level of Qualification
Diploma
90
25.30
Bachelor degree
266
74.70
Total work experience
0–4 years
168
47.20
5–10 years
163
45.80
> 10 years
25
7.00
Working ward currently
Intensive care unit
68
19.10
Inpatient ward
149
41.90
Operation room
55
15.40
Emergency department
35
9.80
Outpatient department
49
13.80
Variable
Frequency
Percent
Monthly income
< 103.2 USD
33
9.30
103.2–169.3 USD
177
49.70
169.4–251.6 USD
116
32.60
> 251.6 USD
30
8.40
Working position
Ward head
14
3.90
Team leader
28
7.90
Focal person
24
6.70
No position/ Technical staff
290
81.50
Additional work other than this hospital
Yes
195
54.80
No
161
45.20
Average daily duration of working time in the hospital
≤ 8 h
169
47.50
9–12 h
127
35.70
> 12 h
60
16.90
Did you receive training about PU
Never received training
300
84.30
Lecture
38
10.70
Course
13
3.70
Conference
2
0.60
Workshop
3
0.80
How often read literature about PU
Never
137
38.5
Always
22
6.2
Sometimes
197
55.3
Work-related characteristics
Among all nurses involved in the study (74.70%) have a bachelor’s degree and the rest (25.30%) were diploma holders. Forty-seven percent of the study subjects were having an experience of fewer than 5 years, (45.8%) reported they have 5–10 years and the rest (7%) were had more than 10 years of experience. Of the total nurse, 41.90% were working at the inpatient department, followed by (19.1%) intensive care unit. Experience of less than 1 year in the current ward/department accounts (53.9%), followed by 1–2 years (26.7%), and > 2 years (19.4%). Among nurses, only 33% were got less than 3201 birrs monthly salary. Towards working position 3.9% were ward head, 7.9% team leader, 6.7% focal person, and 81.5% nurses who care only the patient with no additional leadership/ward head role (Table 1).
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Nurses knowledge of pressure ulcer prevention
Among 356 nurse Participants 52.5% were scored above the mean and the rest 47.5% were scored mean and below the mean out of 41 item questions. The nurses answered correctly 57.9% (+ 1.44) of the question in the pressure ulcer classification and evaluation section. The highest rate of the correct answer was 86% (Stage IV pressure ulcers present total tissue loss, with intensive destruction and necrosis of the tissue or damage to the muscles, bones, or supporting structures) and also with 75.6% (Stage I pressure ulcers are defined as intact skin with hyperemia of a localized area and non-bleachable redness or different color from the surrounding area). The lowest rate was 16.9% (Stage II pressure ulcers present loss of dermis in its total thickness).
Factors associated with nurse’s knowledge towards pressure ulcer
Regarding this, sex (AOR 0.56, 95% CI 0.36–0.88), working hour (AOR 2.57, 95% CI 1.17–5.61), salary (AOR 3.47, 95% CI 1.03–11.67), and training. (AOR 2.31, 95% CI 1.14–4.61) were shown to have a strong statistical association during multivariable analysis (Table 2).
Table 2
Factors associated with Nurses knowledge towards pressure ulcer prevention at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, 2018
Variables
Nurses total knowledge score
COR (95% CI)
AOR (95% CI)
> 25
0–25
No (%)
No (%)
sex
male
102 (59.60)
69 (40.40)
0.57 (0.37–0.87)a
0.563 (0.36–0.88)a
female
85 (45.90)
100 (54.10)
1.00
1.00
salary
< 3201
13 (39.40)
20 (60.60)
6.15 (1.97–19.14)a
3.47 (1.03–11.67)a
3201–5250
84 (47.50)
93 (52.50)
4.43 (1.72–11.36)a
3.90 (1.42–10.68)a
5201–7800
66 (56.90)
50 (43.10)
3.03 (1.15–7.97)a
2.95 (1.04–8.30)a
> 7800
24 (80)
6 (20.00)
1.00
1.00
Additional timework other than this hospital
yes
117 (60.00)
78 (40.00)
0.51 (0.33–0.78)a
1.88 (0.78–4.51)
no
70 (43.50)
91 (56.50)
1.00
1.00
Average working time
≤ 8 h
71 (42.00)
98 (58.00)
2.25 (1.47–3.45)a
2.57 (1.17–8.301)a
> 8 h
116 (62.00)
71 (38.00)
1.00
1.00
Receive training
Never
150 (50.00)
150 (50.00)
1.94 (1.07–3.54)a
2.31 (1.14–4.61)a
Have training
37 (66.10)
19 (33.90)
1.00
1.00
Read literatures
Never
61 (44.50)
76 (55.50)
1.688 (1.09–2.59)a
1.47 (0.88–2.45)
Read sometimes and often
126 (57.60)
93 (42.50)
1.00
1.00
Key: a significant variables
Discussion
The finding of this study shows that nurses who scored above the average score were 52.5%. The proportion of nurses who scored above the average value in the current study was lower than the studies conducted in Sweden (58.9%), Brazil (63.4%), and Addis Ababa Ethiopia 63.85% [22, 23, 26]. The difference might be due to the variation in the socio-economic and health care system of the countries.
In this study nurses correctly answered 57.9% of the eight-question items on the pressure ulcer classification and evaluation section. This finding is congruent with a study done in Iran which is 57% of all questions correctly answered by the respondents [27].
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In the section of pressure ulcer prevention, a 33 item questionnaire was used, the current study result revealed that 62.4% question correctly answered by nurse respondents. This is in line with a study conducted in Iran and other countries with the result score 64.8% of pressure ulcer prevention questions answered correctly [17, 23, 28].
Knowledge of pressure ulcer prevention was also found to have a significant difference among gender groups. The proportion of subjects with poor knowledge was 44% lower among males than female nurses (AOR 0.56, 95% CI 0.36–0.88). This higher proportion of female nurses with a low level of knowledge might be related to the presence of additional responsibilities that females have in our society as it can limit the time they probably require to improve their professional knowledge. Furthermore, it could also limit their level of exposure which has been identified as a significant contributor for knowledge of nurses on pressure ulcer prevention. And this finding supported by previous studies conducted in different countries [29‐31].
The present study revealed that nurses whose working time less than or equal to eight hours were 2.57 times much likely to have poor knowledge towards pressure ulcer prevention compared to nurses whose working time were more than eight hours (AOR 2.57, 95% CI 1.17–5.61). This could be since spending much time in the working environment will increase professional exposures for different activities in a hospital setup. As a result, their awareness level could be higher when compared to those who have a limited level of exposure for such types of medical cases. Besides, these repeated exposures may also give a chance to explore causes and possible prevention measures (10,15 30).
According to the findings of this study nurses who had no training on pressure ulcer prevention were 2.08 times high likely to have poor knowledge about pressure ulcer prevention compared to nurses who had training. (AOR 2.31, 95% CI 1.14–4.61) This result is in line with a study done in North West Ethiopia [19, 32].
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In the current study statistically significant association was found among nurses who have a salary of fewer than 3201 birds were 3.4 times or (AOR 3.47, 95% CI 1.03–11.67), 3201–5250 birr was 3.9 times or (AOR 3.90, 95% CI 1.42–10.68) and those who got 5201–7800 birr were 2.9 times (AOR 2.94, 95% CI 1.04–8.30) high likely to have inadequate knowledge towards pressure ulcer compared to nurses with payment of more than 7800 birrs. This might be due to those nurses who got minimum salary may spend their free time working in another health facility to maximize their income this may lead to lack of time to read literature about pressure ulcer prevention and also it may be moral distress among nurses towards their salary could lead to not having good interest to know more about pressure ulcer prevention [14, 24, 33].
Strengths and limitations
The strength of this study is using standard tools and this enhances the validity of the result and conclusion.
We use true/false questions in addition to Pieper-Zulkowski Pressure Ulcer knowledge test (PZ-PUKT) and we used mean score to define the level of knowledge. It might consider as a limitation because true/false questions are not in the form of a Likert scale and will affect the conclusion due to poor scoring of the mean. Likert scale is more recommended than true/false questions to calculate the mean.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates that the Knowledge of nurses on pressure ulcer prevention is poor. The proportion of poor knowledge is higher among females, those who have low working hours and not having training were factors associated with a low level of knowledge, and low salary among nurses has a contribution of poor knowledge among nurses.
Recommendation
Measures to improve nurse’s knowledge in pressure ulcer prevention needs to be conducted by giving priority for female nurses, those who have low working hours, and not having training on pressure ulcer prevention. Incorporating in the nursing curriculum, and formulating guidelines and improving the salary of nurses are some of the primary points to enhance nurses’ knowledge about pressure ulcer prevention. Furthermore, we recommend a multi-centered study to identify additional factors and effective interventions for addressing pressure ulcer prevention.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Hawassa and Gondar University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital and all the study participants who voluntarily participated in this study.
Ethics approval and consent to participate
Ethical clearance was obtained from the University of Gondar College of medicine and health science school of nursing, Ethical Review Committee. An Official letter was written from Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Then permission and support letter was written to each respected departments and wards. The purpose of the study was explained to the study subjects and written consent was taken from the participants to confirm whether they are willing to participate. Confidentiality of responses was also ensured throughout the research process.
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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