Current perception and knowledge of preventing medical device related pressure injury among nursing staff in intensive care units: A national descriptive cross-sectional study

Objective: Sufficient knowledge is crucial for nurses in intensive care unit to prevent medical device related pressure injuries. This study was aimed to explore the Chinese intensive care nurses' perceptions and knowledge of medical device related pressure injury prevention and identify associated factors.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included a convenience sample of 1286 intensive care nurses recruited from professional networks across China. Participants completed the demographic data form and the adapted 23-item Medical device related pressure injury Knowledge Assessment Questionnaire (MKAQ) questionnaire. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the associated factors.

Results: The medical device related pressure injury knowledge assessment questionnaire scores among intensive care nurses were relatively high, with a correct rate of 78.3 %. Multiple regression analysis revealed that management position (β = 0.131, P < 0.001) was the strongest associated factor of knowledge scores, followed by academic position (β = 0.114, P = 0.009) and received training on medical device related pressure injury (β = 0.112, P < 0.001). Hospital level (β = 0.087, P = 0.004) and sex (β = 0.068, P = 0.016) were also significant associated factors. Collectively, these five variables accounted for 18.2 % of the variance in knowledge scores.

Conclusion: Sufficient knowledge is a prerequisite for safe nursing practice. Although nurses demonstrated relatively high level of knowledge, it is essential for nursing managers to implement specific measures to enhance the knowledge among junior nursing staff, especially in non-tertiary hospitals, to promote medical device related pressure injury prevention in all intensive care settings.

Implications for clinical practice: This study highlights the importance of sociodemographic and professional characteristics in promoting satisfactory perception and knowledge of preventing medical device related pressure injury among intensive care nurses. It is necessary for nurse managers and leaders to develop strategic interventions, along with targeted training programs and quality improvement plans that correspond to the actual training needs to improve the medical device related pressure injury prevention.