Understanding Nurses’ Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Perioperative Pressure Injury Prevention

Abstract

This study evaluated operating room nurses’ knowledge and attitudes toward perioperative pressure injury (PI) prevention in a Kuala Lumpur hospital. Among 211 nurses surveyed using the PuKAT and APuP instruments, average knowledge scores were low (31.74%), especially in prevention and etiology, while attitudes were moderately positive (65%). No significant correlation was found between knowledge and attitude, although knowledge varied significantly by ethnicity, education level, and job position. The findings underscore the need for focused training to enhance PI prevention knowledge, suggesting that attitude alone is insufficient. Targeted professional development and structured in-service programs are vital for effective PI prevention.