Nurses' use of water‐filled gloves in preventing heel pressure ulcer in the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

This cross-sectional descriptive survey examined use (knowledge, perception and practices) of water-filled gloves (WFGs) by nurses in the prevention of heel pressure ulcer (PU) in the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria. Participants were 250 purposively selected nurses working in the Neurosciences and Surgical units. Quantitative data were generated through the administration of a semi-structured questionnaire, whereas the qualitative data were collected through in-depth interview. Hypotheses were tested using chi-square analysis at a significance level of 0.05, whereas the manual content analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. Results showed that a significant number of nurses at UCH, Ibadan, were knowledgeable about WFGs and actually used them in their clinical practice. Years of experience in clinical practice was found to be significantly related to knowledge and use of WFGs in heel PU (X(2) = 41·677; DF = 5; P = 0·001). Nurses with adequate knowledge of risk factors in the development of PU used WFGs more than those who were not aware (X(2) = 44·907; DF = 3; P = 0·009). Nurses' perception about WFGs was also significantly related to its use (X(2) = 4·527; DF = 1; P = 0·033). Although knowledge level and perception of WFGs and its use by nurses was fairly adequate, continuous education for practicing nurses should be encouraged in resource-limited settings.

Does improvised waterbed reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers in patients with spinal injury?

“…[ 9 ] This may, however, become a more serious problem in a developing country like Nigeria where most hospitals are unable to afford preventive measures such as overlays, air-fluid beds, and other devices like gel-filled mattresses currently in use in some other regions of the world. [ 10 ]…”

Prevalence and factors associated with healing outcomes of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers among patients with spinal cord injury

“…This prevalence rate is higher than that of previous studies: Perneger et al (1998) PUs is not totally a developing world problem, it is still adamant in developed nations too, defying the adequate attention that has been given to its prevention (Gunningberg and Stotts, 2008). This may become a more serious problem in a developing country like Nigeria where most hospitals are unable to afford hi-tech preventive measures such as mattresses/overlays, air fluid beds, low-air-loss beds and devices such as water-filled mattresses, air-filled mattresses and gel-filled mattresses/overlays by most hospitals in Nigeria (Adejumo and Ingwu, 2010;Onche et al, 2004) and most health personnel involved in patient care lacks the essential knowledge of early identification and prevention of PUs (Rathore, 2007).…”

“…PUs remains a perennial challenge among recumbent and senescent individuals in the developing countries due to lack of preventive facilities and trained personnel (Adejumo and Ingwu, 2010). Therefore, PUs cannot be ignored in the healthcare delivery system, not only because of their deleterious effect on the patient and economy but their occurrence is often used as a marker for the quality of health care delivered to hospitalized patients (Perneger et al, 1998).…”

“…Praiseworthy advances at preventing PUs has been documented in the developed nations with the advent of sophisticated equipments such as alternating pressure mattresses/overlays, air fluid beds, low-air-loss beds and devices such as water-filled mattresses, air filled mattresses and gel-filled mattresses/overlays among others (Adejumo and Ingwu, 2010). Despite these innovative concepts and technology, PUs still remains recalcitrant and prevalent among hospitalized and high dependent patients (Chacon et al, 2010;Gunningberg and Stotts, 2008;Grey et al, 2006).…”

“…Despite these innovative concepts and technology, PUs still remains recalcitrant and prevalent among hospitalized and high dependent patients (Chacon et al, 2010;Gunningberg and Stotts, 2008;Grey et al, 2006). A developing nation like Nigeria seems disadvantaged in combating the challenge of PUs due to lack of facilities and trained personnel (Adejumo and Ingwu, 2010). Episodes of PUs are common phenomenon in the Nigerian clinic setting; there is a dearth of empirical data on their prevalence and factors associated with their healing outcomes.…”