The effect of an educational intervention on perioperative registered nurse's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards pressure injury prevention in surgical patients

Abstract

Background

Pressure injuries continue to be a significant problem in perioperative patients. Surgical patients are particularly at risk due to lack of mobility and sensation during surgery and the early recovery period. The AORN (2024) recommends that healthcare organizations develop a comprehensive prevention program that includes risk assessment, prevention, and education.

Objectives

To measure the effect of an educational intervention on perioperative nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards pressure injury prevention after one week and again after six months.

Methods

Nurse's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors were measured at three different time periods using quantitative nonexperimental pretest posttest longitudinal design. Three hundred fifty-four perioperative registered nurses from 11 acute care hospitals participated.

Results

Nurses' knowledge scores were in the moderate range. Statistically significant differences were found between pre-test and posttest 1 scores, indicating that knowledge improved after nurses completed the education intervention and information was retained six months after. Nurses' attitudes were neither positive nor negative towards pressure injury prevention. Regarding behavior, the majority of nurses reported carrying out pressure injury prevention strategies, however only half reported carrying out daily risk assessment strategies.

Conclusions

To prevent pressure injury in perioperative patients, it is imperative that guidelines for the prevention of perioperative pressure injury (AORN, 2024) are integrated into nursing practice.