Abstract
(1) Background: Improvement in pressure ulcer care depends both on the dissemination of knowledge and its implementation. This study aims to translate the Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Test into Portuguese from Portugal and evaluate the internal consistency of the questionnaire. The second aim is to assess nurses’ pressure ulcer knowledge level. (2) Methods: The Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Test was translated into Portuguese, and the translated test’s internal consistency and content validity were assessed. Further, the authors conducted a cross-sectional survey using the test among 221 nurses working in long-term care units. (3) Results: The Cronbach’s alpha internal coefficient of reliability recorded for the 47 items was 0.738, which is higher than the minimum acceptable level of 0.7. The Cronbach’s alpha for the subscales was 0.709 for prevention/risk and less than 0.5 for staging and wound description. Only two of the 221 nurses achieved a score of 90% correct answers or more. The nurses scored lower in questions related to prevention/risk (Me = 67.4%, IQR = 60.6–75.8% vs. staging: ME = 85.7%, IQR = 71.4–85.7%, description: ME = 85.7%, IQR = 71.4–85.7%, p < 0.001). (4) Conclusion: The internal consistency of the instrument was acceptable. The instrument can accurately measure Portuguese nurses’ knowledge of pressure ulcers, and its information can help improve education and implementation of best practices.
Highlights
Pressure ulcers (PU) can be painful and negatively affect health-related quality of life and healthcare costs
This study aimed to examine the Portuguese version of the Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Test (PUKT)’s reliability by internal consistency and assess the level of knowledge of the nurses working in long-term care units
Three out of 5 (59.3%) participants attended a lecture on pressure ulcers during the previous year, and 84.2% read an article about pressure ulcers in the last year
Summary
Pressure ulcers (PU) can be painful and negatively affect health-related quality of life and healthcare costs. Despite increased attention over the past 20 years, formalised in international and national safety and quality health service standards [4,5,6,7], the prevalence of PU in Portugal has largely remained unchanged, while the associated costs of care continue to grow [8,9]. Reducing PU prevalence is a complex issue, requiring interventions that include education, evidence-based practice, enthusiastic implementation and auditing, resources, and multidisciplinary team involvement. It is widely accepted that when evidence-based interventions are implemented in clinical practice, it is possible to reduce the PU burden [10,11,12,13,14]. Improvement in pressure ulcer care depends both on the dissemination of knowledge and its implementation
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
