# Knowledge, attitude, and practice among nurses regarding the prevention of pressure ulcers in a tertiary care hospital: a cross-sectional study

## TL;DR

This study assesses how well nurses in a Pakistani hospital understand and practice pressure ulcer prevention, finding room for improvement through training.

## Contribution

The study identifies gaps in nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding pressure ulcer prevention and emphasizes the need for targeted education.

## Key findings

- Nurses showed high knowledge about pressure ulcers and the Braden Scale.
- Higher knowledge scores correlated with better attitudes and practices in pressure ulcer prevention.
- Continuous education is needed to improve nurses' competence in preventing pressure ulcers.

## Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding pressure ulcer prevention in a tertiary care hospital. A cross-sectional design was employed to assess nurses’ KAP regarding pressure ulcer (PU) prevention. The study was conducted at the Government Hospital of Faisalabad, Pakistan. A purposive sampling method selected 200 registered nurses currently employed at the hospital. The average age was 30.20 ± 5.61 years, with 75% (n = 150) married and 92% (n = 182) holding a diploma in nursing. Knowledge regarding pressure ulcers was high, with 49.5% (n = 98) strongly agreeing and 31.8% (n = 61) agreeing that pressure ulcers cause severe illnesses, yielding a Likert score of 4.15. Awareness of the Braden Scale was also high, with 50% (n = 99) strongly agreeing and 31.3% (n = 62) agreeing, resulting in a score of 4.18. The practice of turning patients every two hours was well-received, with 47.5% (n = 94) strongly agreeing, leading to a score of 4.10. Age (p = .134), marital status (p = .571), and level of education (p = .072) were not significant predictors of knowledge scores. However, higher knowledge scores significantly predicted more positive attitudes (p < .001) and better practices (p < .001) in pressure ulcer prevention. The study highlights significant gaps in nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding PU prevention. The findings underscore the need for continuous education and training to enhance nurses’ competence in PU prevention. Addressing these gaps through targeted interventions can improve patient outcomes and reduce the prevalence of PUs in healthcare settings.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-18303-4.