Knowledge and Attitudes of Nurses Toward Pressure Injury Prevention: A Cross-Sectional Multisite Study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to examine the knowledge and attitudes of nurses on pressure injury prevention and determine if there was a relationship between knowledge, attitude, and years of experience following an unexplained increase in reported hospital-acquired pressure injuries across 1 health district in Sydney, Australia.

DESIGN: Multisite cross-sectional study.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING: Registered and enrolled nurses working in acute, medical, and rehabilitation units in 4 hospitals and 5 community health centers across a local health district.

METHODS: Using a modified version of the Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Test and the Staff Attitude Scale, nurses were invited to complete the survey online or on paper.

RESULTS: A total of 3123 surveys were distributed and 998 were returned yielding a response rate of 32%. Approximately one-third of nurse respondents who participated in the survey had been practicing for 5 to 10 years. Almost 80% of participants scored 33/47 or more (70% or more correct) on the knowledge survey; the mean score was 35.21. The mean score for the attitudes test was 44.43 ± 4.77, out of 55 (80.7%), indicating a positive attitude toward pressure injury prevention. There was a significant positive correlation between nurses' years of experience and attitudes, but there was no correlation between years of experience and knowledge. Knowledge and attitudes were also significantly positively correlated.

CONCLUSIONS: Nurses had sound knowledge and held positive attitudes toward pressure injury prevention. Positive attitudes were associated with greater time spent in the workforce. Additional research is required to examine relationships between knowledge of and attitude toward pressure injury prevention and clinical practice. Further research is also needed to determine if improving knowledge and attitudes results in a sustained reduction of hospital-acquired pressure injuries.