CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1Background to the Study
Pressure ulcer refers to lesion on the skin which occurs as a result of persistent pressure, friction or moisture leading to destruction of the skin and underlying tissue. Over 95% of pressure ulcers develop over a bony prominence and major risk factors for pressure ulcer development are immobility and inactivity (El-Ata & Qalawa, 2016). Pressure ulcer is a common health problem in acute and chronically ill patients and it negatively affects the patients, their relatives and caregivers (Abumrad, Arbogast, Barbul, Fogerty, Nanney & Poulose, 2012). Pressure ulcer development indicates poor nursing care and the negative effect on patient’s health underscores the need to prevent the occurrence in hospitalized patients (Chamanga, 2011).Adebule, Gbadegesin, Idowu and Yinusa (2011) conducted a study on pressure ulcer among spinal cordinjury patients in Lagos University Teaching Hospital and result showed a 57.1% pressure ulcer incidence rate.Ademola, Iyun, Malomo, Oluwatosin and Shokumbi (2011) conducted a study on pressure ulcer among patients with spinal cordinjury in University College Hospital, Ibadan and result showed that 87.5% developed pressure ulcer after the first week of admission.
Obiano, Onche and Yiltock(2014) conducted a study on pressure ulcer prevalence among spinal cordinjury patients in Gombe State Hospital and the resultshowed that 57% of patients developed pressure ulcer on admission.These studies show high incidence and prevalence of pressure ulcer which may be due to low knowledge and practice concerning pressure ulcer prevention and treatment among nurses. Pressure ulcer causes serious harm to patients, limit their performance status, leads to severe infection and pain (Cooper, Courtney & Ruppman, 2012). The burden of pressure ulcer is so serious that efforts have been made in United States to reduce its occurrence through continuous nursing education and in-service training of nurses (Gill, Reddy & Rochon, 2012). Pressure ulcer occurs in all admitted patients but it is frequently seen in patients with head and spinal cord injury, immobile patients, poorly nourished patients and patients in critical condition. Its development has been attributed to poor quality of nursing care across a wide range of healthcare settings despite exposure to continuous nursing education on pressure ulcer prevention and treatment (Cowman& O’Brian, 2011).
Pressure ulcer development has been attributed to poor quality of nursing care and inadequate preventive practice by nurses especially when preventive measures are not implemented early during the period of hospitalization (Chamanga, 2011).Pressure ulcer prevention involves risk assessment, identification, staging, documentation and implementation of pressure ulcer preventive measures. Treatment of pressure ulcer is more expensive than prevention so efforts have been directed towards aquisition of skills in preventive care of pressure ulcer rather than treatment (Alhosis,El-Moneem& Qalawa, 2012).Pressure ulcer preventive measures are implemented on all patients especially those in critical condition because the tendency of pressure ulcer development in such patients is high (Estocado, Landers, Shen & Young, 2012). Pressure ulcer prevention and treatment is often wrongly done by nurses and its development negatively affects the patients’ quality of life (Bergquist-Beringer, Dunton, Gajewski & Klaus, 2011).Estocado, Landers, Shen and Young (2012) stated that increased incidence and prevalence of pressure ulcer has been attributed to low knowledge and practice concerning pressure ulcer prevention and treatment among nurses.
Cherry, Maloney, Midyette and Moss (2012) opined that the prevention of hospital acquired pressure ulcer remains a top priority worldwide with key areas addressed including; training for nurses on pressure ulcer prevention and treatment, nurses training on utilization of standardized risk assessment scale and continuous nursing education on pressure ulcer prevention and treatment. Low knowledge and practice concerning pressure ulcer prevention and treatment among nurses has persisted despite exposure to continuous nursing education and in-service training (Aydin & Karadag, 2010). Tweed and Tweed (2008) stated that despite nurses’ exposure to in-service training programmes and continuing nursing education on pressure ulcer, knowledge and practice concerning pressure ulcer prevention and treatment among nurses has been low. Altun and Zencirci (2011) opined that knowledge and practice concerning pressure ulcer among nurses is low despite exposure to training programmes on pressure ulcer prevention and treatment. According to Beeckman, Boucque, Defloor, Maele and Schoonhoven (2008) knowledge and practice concerning pressure ulcer prevention and treatment among nurses is low despite exposure to training programmes on pressure ulcer prevention and treatment.
Hsu, Sung and Tsao (2013) stated that despite nurses’ exposure to in-service training programmes and continuous nursing education on pressure ulcer prevention and treatment, knowledge and practice concerning pressure ulcer prevention and treatment has been low. Despite initiation of continuous nursing education and training programmes on pressure ulcer prevention and treatment, problems associated with it seem to persist suggesting a fundamental problem. These prompted the researcher to study the effect of a nurse-led training programme on pressure ulcer prevention and treatment among nurses in Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu and Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan remo, Ogun State.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Despite advancement in pressure ulcer prevention and treatment through discovery of latest preventive measures and treatment approaches, knowledge and practice concerning pressure ulcer prevention and treatment among nurses has been low (Adejumo & Ingwu, 2010).Smith & Waugh (2014) opined that the adverse effect of pressure ulcer has significantly increased leading to worsening wound, increased cost of care, increased period of hospitalization and increasedpressure ulcer incidence and prevalence. Litigation against nurses due to hospital acquired pressure ulcerhas also been on the increase. In Nigeria, 50% incidence of pressure ulcer was found among spinal cord injury patients, 38.6% incidence was found among orthopedic patients and 11.4% incidence was found among head injury patients which has resulted in great burden and negative effect on patients such as poor patients’ care outcome, poor patient care satisfaction, increased cost of hospital care and lenghty hospital stay (Ogunsanya, Onigbinde & Oniyangi, 2013).
Likewise, the researcher through clinical experience has observed high incidence and prevalence of pressure ulcer. These may be attributed to low knowledge and practice concerning pressure ulcer prevention and treatment among nurses. These may also be attributed to a gap in the type of training programmes offered to nurses on pressure ulcer prevention and treatment. Hence, the need for a study on the effect of a nurse-led training programme on pressure ulcer prevention and treatment among nurses in Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu and Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan remo, Ogun State.
1.3 Objective of the Study
The main objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of a nurse-led training programmeon pressure ulcerprevention and treatment among nurses. The specific objectives are to
- determine pre-intervention knowledge concerning pressure ulcer prevention and treatment among nurses in the experimental and control group;
- ascertain pre-intervention practice concerning pressure ulcer prevention and treatment among nurses in the experimental and control group;
- implement a nurse-led training progamme on pressure ulcer prevention and treatment;
- determine the effect of a nurse-led training programme on knowledge concerning pressure ulcer prevention and treatment among nurses in the experimental and control group and
- identify the effect of a nurse-led training programme on practice concerning pressure ulcer prevention and treatment among nurses in the experimental and control group.
1.4 Research Questions
The following research questions were answered:
- What is pre-intervention knowledge concerning pressure ulcer prevention and treatment among nurses in the experimental and control group?
- What is pre-intervention practice concerning pressure ulcer prevention and treatment among nurses in the experimental and control group?
1.5 Hypotheses
