Abstract:
Background: Pressure ulcers (PU) are associated with long stay in the hospital and
notably create a financial burden to family and health care system as well. PU can result
in mortality and psycho-social consequences. Although PU prevention remains a
concern for all healthcare practitioners, maintenance of skin integrity and PU prevention
is primarily nurses‟ role.
Aim of the Study: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and
practices regarding prevention of PU among nurses working at Kibagabaga district
hospital in Rwanda.
Methods: A non experimental, quantitative research approach and cross-sectional
descriptive design was used. A total population sampling method, consisting of 128
nurses was used. The sample size consisted of all 128 nurses caring for patients with or
at risk of PU and who were willing to participate in the study. Pieper Pressure Ulcer
Knowledge Test, The Staff Attitude Scale and Facility Assessment Checklists were
used to collect the data and a response rate of 80 %( 102) was achieved. Data were
analyzed using SPSS (version 21). Frequencies, means, and standard deviations were
used to summarize socio-demographic characteristics and to determine mean scores of
knowledge, attitudes and practices among participants. One-way ANOVA and
Independent samples t-test were performed to compare means. Pearson correlation
coefficient (r) was calculated to test the correlation between nurses‟ knowledge,
attitudes and practices. A p-value of 0.05 was considered as significant.
Results: The majority of nurses (77.8%) had a very low (< 60%) knowledge
(mean= 55.34, SD=9.87). 87.3% of nurses exhibited a positive attitude towards PU
prevention. 69% of nurses demonstrated between moderate and very high level of
practice: Moderate (51.5%), high (14.4%) and very high level of practice (3.1%) in
regard to PU prevention respectively. Nearby a half (40%) of nurses had low level of
practice: 18.6% had low and 12.4% had very low level of practice respectively.
Conclusion: Knowledge of the nurses regarding prevention of PU was very low. The
majority of nurses had a positive attitude toward PU prevention. A non-negligible
proportion of nurses had a low and very low level of practice towards PU prevention. A
lower positive correlation between the nurses knowledge and their attitudes (r=0.178,
p=0.078), as well as negative correlation between the knowledge and the practices
towards PU prevention (r=-0.107, p=0.303) were identified. Nurses attitudes were also
negatively correlated with their practices (r=-0.183, p=0.074).
