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Background Critically ill patients are at high risk for pressure ulcers. Successful prevention of pressure ulcers requires that caregivers have adequate knowledge of this complication. Objective To assess intensive care nurses’ knowledge of pressure ulcers and the impact of an educational program on knowledge levels. Methods A knowledge assessment test was developed. A cohort of registered nurses in a tertiary referral hospital in New Zealand had knowledge assessed 3 times: before an educational program, within 2 weeks after the program, and 20 weeks later. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine if attributes such as length of time since qualifying or level of intensive care unit experience were associated with test scores. The content and results of the assessment test were evaluated. Results Completion of the educational program resulted in improved levels of knowledge. Mean scores on the assessment test were 84% at baseline and 89% following the educational program. The mean baseline score did not differ significantly from the mean 20-week follow-up score of 85%. No association was detected between demographic data and test scores. Content validity and standard setting were verified by using a variety of methods. Conclusion Levels of knowledge to prevent and manage pressure ulcers were good initially and improved with an educational program, but soon returned to baseline.

Survival rates in both critically and chronically ill infants and children have improved dramatically in recent years and new challenges exist in the nursing care given to these patients. Among these is the increased risk of pressure ulcer development. Children in intensive care environments are especially at risk. Prevention and management of pressure ulceration in the paediatric population requires clinical judgement and skill. The use of pressure ulcer risk assessment tools can assist in this process; however, to date, there is a lack of research evidence and further studies are needed. The pressure relief requirements of the paediatric patient are significantly different to those of the adult patient. In children under the age of 36 months, the ears and occiput are the areas most at risk of pressure injury as a result of the fact that this area is proportionately the largest and heaviest bony prominence. Despite the abundance of specialist pressure redistributing devices for adults, there is little available specifically for the paediatric patient. This article describes a review of the literature on these subject areas and follows with a short report of the evaluation of the new Paediatric Nimbus System undertaken at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.

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