Nurses’ Knowledge About Wound Care

Abstract

Introduction. Nurses’ knowledge can directly lead to treatment outcomes. Aim. To investigate the knowledge and attitudes of nurses regarding chronic wounds and to compare the nurses who participated in the study according to their level of education, years of experience, and place of work. Methods. Anonymous questionnaire about wound care knowledge was completed by 193 nurses with different educational backgrounds in three counties from central Croatia. The study was conducted during lectures organized through plans for continued education. Results. Most respondents had >5 years of experience, are employed in a hospital and have secondary education in nursing. Nurses with secondary education and less than five years of experience had better knowledge regarding leg ulcers. Hospital nurses state that they have insufficient knowledge about wound healing; however, doctors are more accessible to them. Conclusion. This study examined nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding wound care. Mixed results indicate the need for further and more detailed research.