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The Knowledge of Nurses in Pressure Ulcer Prevention and their Attitude towards the Use of Braden Scale

Tuesday, 31 July 2012: 3:50 PM

Joemer Calderon Maravilla, BSN
Barbara Michelle de Guzman, MSN, RN
Melowean Hurtado Lucero, BSN
Maricar Mae Agustin Marquez, BSN
Marc Joseph Cataquis Medina, BSN
Ray Jorge Bundang Marmeto, BSN
Glaiza G. Maer, BSN
Rizza Marjorie B. Lumba, BSN
Marisse Diaz Pasamba, BSN
Verna Mae Jose Ologenio, BSN
Trifina Baquiran Lugo, BSN
Angely S. Mendoza, BSN
Joyce Ann Bautista Quicho, BSN
Teodoro Eugenio Y. Alejo, MD, RN, MAN, RM
Institute of Nursing, Far Eastern University, Manila, Philippines

Learning Objective 1: Share their perception and experiences in pressure ulcer prevention and risk assessment.

Learning Objective 2: Discuss their view on the need of continuous education about pressure ulcer prevention and the use of pressure ulcer risk assessment scales like Braden scale.

Purpose:

This descriptive correlational study aimed to investigate the relationship between the knowledge of nurses in pressure ulcer prevention and their attitude towards the use of Braden scale.

Methods:

Seventy seven full time staff nurses who has experienced using the Braden scale and who are working in intensive care units, medical, surgical, or orthopedic wards were chosen through purposive sampling. Two pilot tested questionnaires were circulated into two private hospitals in Metro Manila to determine the knowledge of nurses in pressure ulcer prevention and their attitude towards the use of Braden scale.

Results:

Results showed that the respondents have a positive attitude (mean score = 3.97) in using the Braden scale. However, their knowledge regarding pressure ulcer prevention was found to be inadequate (mean score = 76.94%). Moreover, results showed a weak positive relationship between the knowledge of nurses in pressure ulcer prevention and their attitude towards the use of Braden scale, however, this relationship was found to be not significant (r=0.1141, t=0.995).

Conclusion:

Nurses play a pivotal role in pressure ulcer prevention. However, nurses’ knowledge in pressure ulcer prevention and their attitude towards screening for pressure ulcer risk are at a divide. While nurses believe that using pressure ulcer risk assessment scales like the Braden scale is important; their knowledge of pressure ulcer prevention is still relatively low. Despite of the increase in the attitude of nurses, a more aggressive approach to pressure ulcer prevention is necessary, starting with boosting nurses’ knowledge through continuous training and  education.

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