Knowledge of pressure ulcer prevention among nursing staff, Santo Domingo, 2022

Abstract

Introduction: Pressure ulcers (PUs) represent a key indicator of quality of care in the health care setting, mainly affecting immobilized patients. The global incidence is significant, with 2.5 million cases annually. In Latin America, data varies, with high figures in countries such as Brazil and Chile. In Ecuador, an incidence of 3.16% is reported in some institutions. Methods: The study is descriptive and non-experimental, using a cross-sectional design. Data were collected through surveys at a single point in time, applying the CPUP-31 questionnaire to 52 nurses from different institutions in Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas. The questionnaire, validated by experts, measures knowledge of PU prevention in 12 dimensions. Results and discussion: The majority of the participants were women (75%) between 30 and 44 years of age (46.2%), with less than one year of experience (51.9%). The 96.2% of the staff showed a high level of knowledge in PU prevention. The dimensions with the highest knowledge were local prevention (96.2%), preventive methods (94.6%) and patient education (94.2%). However, friction management presented lower knowledge (46.2%). The results indicate a good level of general knowledge about PU prevention, similar to international studies. However, areas for improvement were identified, especially in friction management. Continuous updating and training are essential to maintain high standards of care. Conclusions: Nursing staff has a good knowledge of PU prevention, but certain aspects need to be reinforced. It is recommended to implement continuous training programs to improve PU prevention and management in nursing staff.