the impact of educational programs on nurses’ knowledge of pressure ulcer prevention strategies

Abstract

Abstract Title: The impact of educational programmes on nurses’ knowledge of pressure ulcer prevention strategies. Background: Pressure ulcers (PUs) are a common complication in the intensive care unit (ICU). Intensive care patients who are sedated, ventilated, and/or immobile for lengthy periods of time are at risk of developing PUs, with about 22% to 49% of critically ill patients experiencing PUs. According to a previous study, nurses have limited knowledge in this field. Patient care could improve as a result of educational programmes implemented to promote the adoption of PU prevention strategies and the correct management of existing wounds. Aim and Objectives: This review aimed to evaluate the effect of educational programmes on nurses’ knowledge of PU prevention in hospital wards – especially in the ICU, which includes patients at high risk of PUs. The objective of this review was thus to examine the published literature on the impact of educational programmes on nurses' knowledge of PU prevention strategies. Methods: The study question was formulated using the PICO framework. The databases Ovid-Embase, MEDLINE, Glasgow University Online Library, and Google Scholar were utilised. The search was restricted to English-language papers that were no more than 10 years old. All research providing quantitative data met the inclusion criteria, whereas all studies yielding qualitative data were excluded. To critically assess the literature in this review, the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist was employed. Result: Eight papers were included for the quantitative synthesis. The review reported a positive effect of educational programmes on the knowledge of nurses concerning PU prevention, demonstrating that they help to improve the practice and skills of nurses. Conclusion: The overall findings demonstrated that educational programmes have a positive impact on nurses' knowledge of PU prevention strategies. However, nurses need regular education sessions to retain this knowledge. Keywords: Educational programme, nurses' knowledge, pressure ulcers, systematic literature review, training.