Knowledge, Attitude and Compliance on Pressure Injury Prevention among Nurses in the Teaching-Training Public Hospital in Cebu City, Philippines

Abstract

Introduction: Pressure injuries are a traditional nursing issue. This study determines the nurses’ knowledge, attitude and compliance on pressure injury prevention.

Materials and Methods: A descriptive correlational quantitative design was used in the study. A total of 196 nurses were selected using stratified random sampling. The knowledge was measured using the Pieper pressure ulcer knowledge test, while the nurses’ attitude was measured by the staff attitude scale, and compliance on pressure injuries was assessed using the pressure injury prevention care bundle. Participants were nurses assigned to the medical–surgical units in the teaching-training public hospital in Cebu City, Philippines. The participants were asked using a paper-to-pen test.

Results: In this study, among all indicators, 88.15% of the nurses were knowledgeable in terms of the use of devices, followed by other preventive measures with 87.46% and lastly, 85.86% of the nurses knew how to identify risk factors that causes PI. On the other hand, 67.86% of the nurses were least knowledgeable in determining stages I, II, III, IV and classification of pressure injuries, followed by mobility with 75.92% then skin care with 77.30%. Majority of the nurses had a favorable attitude with a mean score of m=4.03 (SD=0.13). In terms of compliance of nurses on PI prevention, across all indicators, nurses were highly compliant in risk assessment (m=3.51, SD=0.74), but least performed in moisture/incontinence management (m=3.11, SD=0.79). The following variables had a significant relationship with each other; knowledge vs compliance (X2=1230.954a,p=0.00), attitude vs compliance (X2=1389.378a, p=0.00), knowledge vs length of service (rho=.162*, p=0.02), attitude vs length of service (rho= -.144*, p=0.04), length of service vs compliance (rho= -.145*, p=0.04), training on PI vs compliance (X2=22.534*p=0.03).

Conclusion/Implications: As a result of their high level of knowledge, favorable attitude with high level of compliance, development of pressure injuries among patients in the medical-surgical units in the teaching-training public hospital in Cebu City, Philippines, may be prevented through proper application by the nurses of the preventive measures or interventions to prevent PI. The correlation between variable is deemed necessary for the nurses assigned to the units so that they can provide a quality skin care, thus, control the occurrence of pressure injuries.