Work

Knowledge and confidence regarding pressure ulcer prevention among caregivers of high-risk individuals: A pre- and post-education assessment in a single-center

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We aimed to measure the effect of implementing a pressure ulcer (PU) educational program on the knowledge and confidence of caregivers taking care of bedridden patients or patients with limited mobility. This study included caregivers of immobile or bedridden patients in our center from 23 April 2023 to 13 May 2023. A pre-assessment questionnaire to assess knowledge about PUs was provided. After this, an educational session was implemented. Thereafter, a post-assessment questionnaire was provided to measure the education outcomes. A total of 98 caregivers were included in the study; the majority were females ( n = 69, 70.4 %) and were family members of the patient ( n = 89, 90.8 %). Most have never received education on PUs and their prevention ( n = 63, 64.3 %). The education sessions significantly affected the level of knowledge, as the scores were significantly higher post-education compared to pre-education (16.96 ± 2.73 vs. 11.06 ± 3.71, p < 0.001). Overall, we found that education sessions on PUs using different visual and audio aids could significantly increase caregivers' knowledge of PU prevention. We adopted a multi-faceted approach by developing original educational materials tailored to non-professional caregivers, including videos, booklets, and brochures in Arabic and English. This helped ensure accessibility and enhance the potential for widespread applicability in diverse home settings. • Pressure ulcers were reported to be among the top seven causes of short-term mortality. • Providing educational materials to caregivers significantly increased their knowledge about pressure ulcer prevention. • Only 35.7 % of caregivers reported that they received proper education regarding pressure ulcer prevention previously. • After education, 95.9 % of caregivers were confident in preventing bedsores. • Caregivers who received prior education on pressure ulcer prevention scored better than those who did not.

Source: PEC Innovation

DOI: 10.1016/j.pecinn.2025.100393