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American Journal of Critical Care. 2008;17: 338-346
Copyright © 2008 by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.
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CE Article

Intensive Care Nurses’ Knowledge of Pressure Ulcers: Development of an Assessment Tool and Effect of an Educational Program

By Carol Tweed, RN, MSc, BSc (Hons) and Mike Tweed, MBChB, FRCP, FRACP, MMedSci. Carol Tweed is a consultant in Wellington, New Zealand. Mike Tweed is a clinical senior lecturer in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand.

Corresponding author: Dr Mike Tweed, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, Wellington, PO Pox 7343, Wellington 6242 New Zealand (e-mail: mike.tweed{at}otago.ac.nz).

Background Critically ill patients are at high risk for pressure ulcers. Successful prevention of pressure ulcers requires that caregivers have adequate knowledge of this complication.

Objective To assess intensive care nurses’ knowledge of pressure ulcers and the impact of an educational program on knowledge levels.

Methods A knowledge assessment test was developed. A cohort of registered nurses in a tertiary referral hospital in New Zealand had knowledge assessed 3 times: before an educational program, within 2 weeks after the program, and 20 weeks later. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine if attributes such as length of time since qualifying or level of intensive care unit experience were associated with test scores. The content and results of the assessment test were evaluated.

Results Completion of the educational program resulted in improved levels of knowledge. Mean scores on the assessment test were 84% at baseline and 89% following the educational program. The mean baseline score did not differ significantly from the mean 20-week follow-up score of 85%. No association was detected between demographic data and test scores. Content validity and standard setting were verified by using a variety of methods.

Conclusion Levels of knowledge to prevent and manage pressure ulcers were good initially and improved with an educational program, but soon returned to baseline.

Notice to CE enrollees:
A closed-book, multiple-choice examination following this article tests your understanding of the following objectives:
  1. Recognize the importance of knowledge of pressure ulcers for nurses in the intensive care unit.
  2. Describe the relationship between individual nurses’ characteristics and knowledge of pressure ulcers found in this study.
  3. Understand the impact of focused educational offerings on nurses’ knowledge about pressure ulcers.
To read this article and take the CE test online, visit www.ajcconline.org and click "CE Articles in This Issue." No CE test fee for AACN members.


Related articles in AJCC:

Clinical Pearls
Mary Jo Grap
AJCC 2008 17: 314. [Full Text]  

Evaluation of and Caring for Patients With Pressure Ulcers
Linda Bell
AJCC 2008 17: 348. [Full Text]  





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Copyright © 2008 by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.