Pressure ulcer, knowledge, description and prevention among senior nursing students in Jordan

Abstract

Background: Pressure ulcers are preventable patient safety issues that adversely affect healthcare costs and outcomes. Senior nursing students are expected to be prepared to contribute to pressure ulcer prevention based on their clinical education and training; however, evidence suggests that gaps in knowledge and preparedness may still exist.
Objective: To assess nursing students’ knowledge of pressure ulcer staging, prevention, risks, and wound description, and to examine differences according to participant characteristics.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 200 nursing students from two governmental universities in Jordan; however, 184 completed surveys were included in the final analysis. The Pieper-Zulkowski Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Test was used. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) at the p .05 significance level.
Results: Overall, students demonstrated poor knowledge (M = 31.33, SD = 8.95). Students from the University of Jordan and those who accessed online information had significantly higher prevention scores (p < .05).
Conclusions: The findings underscore the need to develop targeted teaching, training, and curricula to enhance students’ knowledge of pressure ulcers.