The effects of promoting practical nursing while complying with pressure ulcer prevention guidelines, Male medical ward 2, Nakornping Hospital

Abstract

Pressure ulcers are a significant and increasingly prevalent complication in tertiary hospitals, which have a profound impact on patients, resulting in distress and pain, increased risk of infection, prolonged hospitalization, and even mortality. While Nakornping Hospital has implemented preventive measures against pressure ulcers, there is still a lack of consistency and continuity. Thus, the researcher proposes an intervention to promote nursing practices based on pressure ulcer prevention guidelines in the male medical ward 2 of Nakornping Hospital. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of promoting nursing practices based on pressure ulcer prevention guidelines using a quasi-experimental pre- and post-test design. The study population consisted of 19 professional nurses and 132 patients at risk of developing pressure ulcers during September and December 2022. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, percentages, chi-square tests, and paired t-tests.

Results: The findings revealed that total 19 professional nurses enrolled in the study had the nurses' age ranged between 21 to 30 years, accounting for 68.42%. The majority of them were experienced professional nurses (89.47%). However, they had not received training specifically related to pressure ulcer prevention (84.21%). The comparison of nurses' knowledge before and after the intervention showed a statistically significant improvement (p-value < 0.001). Overall, the nurses expressed a high level of satisfaction with the promotion of nursing practices based on pressure ulcer prevention guidelines (94.74%). The patients or their caregivers also expressed a high level of satisfaction (96.21%). Moreover, there was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of pressure ulcers before and after the intervention (p-value = 0.024).

Conclusion: Based on the findings, it is evident that promoting pressure ulcer prevention nursing practices is essential in enhancing nurses' awareness and their ability to implement guidelines effectively, leading to a reduction in adverse effects on patients. Therefore, continuous support and promotion should be provided to ensure consistent adherence to these practices.