Asian Journal of Medical Principles and Clinical Practice

Aim: The study aimed to ascertain the level of knowledge of Pressure Ulcers (PU) and their preventive measures among Nurses in Madonna University Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Study Design: A descriptive survey research design was used.

Methodology: The sample of the study comprised 100 Nurses of the various units in the hospital. A structured questionnaire was the main instrument used for data collection. Face validity was employed. The reliability of the instrument was established using the test-retest method in which the questionnaire was administered to twenty health workers in the Federal Medical Center, Owerri, Nigeria. The results were analyzed using Pearson’s Product Moment. The reliability coefficient was 0.75, which indicated that the instrument was reliable.

Results: The frequency and percentages showed that higher educational qualification (81%, 91.4%) and longer work experience (88.8%, 88.9%) improved PU knowledge and PU prevention knowledge respectively. The study tested for associations between PU knowledge with educational qualification; and work experience. There were no significant associations between educational qualification with PU knowledge ( ²=.51, P=.77) and PU prevention knowledge ( ²=2.39, P=.30). There were no significant associations between work experience with PU knowledge ( ²=1.205, P=.75) and PU prevention knowledge ( ²=5.43, P=.67).  

Conclusions: The majority of the nurses of MUTH have a high level of overall knowledge regarding PU but a good number of lack knowledge in some areas such as massage over bony prominences being a trigger to PU. Refresher courses and training programs on PU prevention should be organized for nurses to keep them up to date.