Exploring Nurses' Knowledge and Perceived Barriers to Carry Out Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Treatment, Documentation, and Risk Assessment
Muna Suleman Abdel Rahman Al Kharabsheh, Rula Faraj Abdel Rahman Alrimawi, Rawan Moustafa Al Assaf, Mohammad Y.N. Saleh

Abstract
Aims: The aims of the study were to determine: (1) Jordanian nurses' level of knowledge of pressure ulcer (PU) prevention and treatment of hospitalized patients (2) Perceived barriers to carry out pressure ulcer prevention and treatment, documentation, and risk assessment. Background: Pressure ulcers are common and previous studies have shown education, knowledge and attitude affect implementation of interventions. Methods: A self-reported cross-sectional survey design was used to collect data from nurses who were providing care to patients with pressure ulcer problems between June 2012 and November 2012. We used a questionnaire, which was informed by earlier work and guidelines, to collect data about nurses' knowledge of pressure ulcer prevention and treatment and to assess perceived barriers to carry out PU care. Results/Findings: Knowledge showed no association with most demographic variables. Lack of staff, lack of time and unavailability of clinical PU guidelines were perceived barriers to carry out PU care effectively. Conclusion: Jordanian nurses' knowledge on PU prevention and treatment was inadequate. Further, adequate dissemination of PU prevention and treatment guidelines seems to be a prerequisite to improve quality of PU prevention and treatment. Improving practice requires a multi-faceted approach to assure adequate support to make changes reflected on patients' outcomes and raising awareness of pressure ulcer preventive and treatment interventions using a variety of approaches (education, use of risk assessment tools, grading scores and clinical guidelines) are probably all useful.

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