Abstract ▼ AI-Helper

Purpose: This study aimed to assess hospital nurses’ performance concerning pressure ulcer(PU) care as suggested in an evidence-based nursing practice guideline for PU care; furthermore, we analyzed individual characteristics of nurses and organizational characteristics of institutions that influenc...

Purpose: This study aimed to assess hospital nurses’ performance concerning pressure ulcer(PU) care as suggested in an evidence-based nursing practice guideline for PU care; furthermore, we analyzed individual characteristics of nurses and organizational characteristics of institutions that influence this performance. Methods: The data were collected with a structured questionnaire from a total of 199 nurses working in general hospitals or higher-level institutions in Seoul and the metropolitan cities from August 20 to September 10, 2016. To examine individual and organizational characteristics, the collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics; an independent t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlation were also computed to identify the factors affecting the nurses’ performance. Finally, a hierarchical multiple regression was performed to determine weighted factors affecting those characteristics in relation to the nurses’ performance. Results: The nurses’ performance concerning pressure ulcer care was rated 3.99 out of 5. The performance in ‘wound care: debridement’, ‘pain management’, ‘skin care’, ‘incontinence management’, ‘supporting surface’, and ‘nutrition for the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcer’ was below average. With regard to individual and organizational characteristics that had a significant impact on nurses’ performance, the interest in PU care (β= .28, p=< .001), a main pressure ulcer manager’s in a ward being a WOCN (β= .22, p= .013), and an institution’s having a nursing practice guideline for PU care (β= .16, p= .02) were confirmed to be significant predictors of a good performance in PU care (F=5.68, p=< .001, Adjusted R2=20.6%). Conclusions: To improve hospital nurses’ performance concerning PU care, nurses themselves should perceive its importance and develop their interest in it. Institutions also need to elaborate a systematic and scientific evidence-based guideline and a system for nurturing and supporting WOCNs specializing in PU.

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