Justin  Agorye Ingwu, Ngozi  Omotola, Hope  Opara, Israel  Egbechi Ogbonnaya, Chinenye  Ogbogu, Christianah  Kotoye, Happiness  Amarachi Nwaordu, Mathias  Agba, 
    Caregiver’s Knowledge and Practice Towards Pressure
Ulcer Prevention: A Cross Sectional Descriptive Study,
    Research Journal of Medical Sciences,
    Volume 13,Issue 2,
    2019,
    Pages 38-44,
    ISSN 1815-9346,
    rjmsci.2019.38.44,
    (https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=rjmsci.2019.38.44)
    Abstract: Globally, nurses are known to care for hospitalized patients and the presence or absence of pressure
ulcers is being regarded as a performance measure of quality nursing care. The study aims to determine the
knowledge and practice of caregivers towards pressure ulcer prevention for hospitalized patients in National
Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. A cross sectional descriptive survey design was adopted among eighty
five (85) caregivers who met the inclusion criteria and participated in the study. Ethical approval and informed
consent of participants was obtained before data collection using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire
and checklist. Descriptive analysis and Chi-square statistical test was used to test for association between
variables. Results revealed poor knowledge 67.3% of pressure ulcer prevention among caregivers. Risk
assessment scale is not an appropriate method for assessing an individual who is at risk for pressure ulcer
development 22.4%, inadequate staffing 95.3%, heavy workload 92.9% were highest perceived barriers to
pressure ulcer prevention. The test of hypothesis showed that there is a significant relationship between years
of service of caregivers and knowledge of pressure ulcer p = 0.000. It was concluded that in-service training,
recruitment of more staff and ensuring availability of the necessary equipment are some of the important steps
to improve nurse’s knowledge and practice regarding prevention of pressure ulcer among hospitalized patients.
    Keywords: data collection;quality nursing care;practice towards pressure ulcer prevention;caregivers knowledge;Pressure ulcer;heavy workload