Nurses' knowledge and practice in preventing pressure injuries in intensive care units

Objective: Globally, pressure injuries (PIs) are an important problem affecting healthcare institutions and patients. Nurses in multidisciplinary teams, play a crucial role in preventing PIs. Nurses working in intensive care units (ICUs) provide care to patients who are at risk of developing PIs. The aim of this study was to ascertain the knowledge and practices of intensive care nurses in preventing PIs, and to highlight the relationship between this knowledge and the prevalence of PIs. Method: This study used a descriptive and correlational design. It was carried out in the level 3 ICU of a university hospital in Kayseri, Turkey. A total of four instruments were used at the data collection stage: a nurse information form; the PI prevention knowledge assessment instrument; PI prevention practices; and a PI Prevalence Form. Results: The population of the study consisted of 111 nurses, 91 (82%) of whom fully participated. The mean score of the nurses' knowledge in preventing PIs was found to be 43.2±11.4%. The most common answer regarding the clinical use of PI prevention practices was: 'always applied'. There was no relationship between PI prevalence and PI prevention knowledge scores of the ICU nurses. Conclusion: In this study, it was observed that although nurses reported incorporating PI prevention practices in ICUs, their related knowledge level was insufficient. Declaration of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest.