Knowledge and confidence regarding pressure ulcer prevention among caregivers of high-risk individuals: A pre- and post-education assessment in a single-center

Objective

We aimed to measure the effect of implementing a pressure ulcer (PU) educational program on the knowledge and confidence of caregivers taking care of bedridden patients or patients with limited mobility.

Methods

This study included caregivers of immobile or bedridden patients in our center from 23 April 2023 to 13 May 2023. A pre-assessment questionnaire to assess knowledge about PUs was provided. After this, an educational session was implemented. Thereafter, a post-assessment questionnaire was provided to measure the education outcomes.

Results

A total of 98 caregivers were included in the study; the majority were females (n = 69, 70.4 %) and were family members of the patient (n = 89, 90.8 %). Most have never received education on PUs and their prevention (n = 63, 64.3 %). The education sessions significantly affected the level of knowledge, as the scores were significantly higher post-education compared to pre-education (16.96 ± 2.73 vs. 11.06 ± 3.71, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Overall, we found that education sessions on PUs using different visual and audio aids could significantly increase caregivers' knowledge of PU prevention.

Innovation

We adopted a multi-faceted approach by developing original educational materials tailored to non-professional caregivers, including videos, booklets, and brochures in Arabic and English. This helped ensure accessibility and enhance the potential for widespread applicability in diverse home settings.