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AIM: Pressure injuries, a prevalent issue in healthcare settings, have profound physical and emotional implications for patients and healthcare providers. However, further evidence is needed regarding the level of nursing students' knowledge of pressure injuries in the Middle East, a region where healthcare is rapidly evolving. This study examines the knowledge levels regarding pressure injuries among nursing students in Jordan and Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study collected data from a randomly selected sample of 282 nursing students studying in two private and two Public Universities in Turkey and Jordan. Data was collected using a demographic survey and the Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Assessment Tool (PUKAT 2.0). RESULTS: The overall knowledge scores among students were alarmingly low, with significant differences between Jordanian and Turkish cohorts, with Turkish students scoring higher. Moreover, a significant difference was observed between students' knowledge levels from public and private universities in Jordan, but no difference was found between students of the two Turkish universities. CONCLUSION: The knowledge gap among nursing students regarding pressure ulcers is a critical issue that needs immediate attention. These findings highlight the urgent need for improved educational strategies and standardized competencies in this aspect. This study strongly advocates for changing teaching strategies and incorporating evidence-based pressure injury prevention education into nursing curricula, interprofessional education initiatives, and continuous professional development for faculty. These measures can significantly enhance nursing students' knowledge and improve patient care.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a significant increase in the use of latex gloves among nurses. However, concerns about the rise in latex allergies and related complaints due to this increase remain uncertain. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the rates of latex glove usage and allergy-related complaints among nurses working in hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Between May 15 and June 15, 2021, ethical approvals were obtained for a cross-sectional study involving 448 volunteer nurses. Descriptive statistics were used to represent categorical values as counts (n) and percentages (%), while continuous values were represented as mean±standard deviation. The normal distribution of the data was assessed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests. Comparative analyses were conducted using paired sample t-test, Pearson's chi-squared (x2) test, McNemar's chi-squared (x2) test, and Spearman correlation analysis. RESULTS: Before the pandemic, the average number of invasive procedures was 45.13±26.48, whereas during the pandemic, this rate increased to 50.23±29.14. The average glove usage duration went from 7.69±3.13 hours to 14.73±3.68 hours during the pandemic. Among nurses, the rate of allergic symptoms, which was previously at 31.5%, rose to 33.3% during the pandemic. CONCLUSION: This study revealed a significant increase in daily invasive procedures and the use of latex gloves among nurses during the pandemic period. Simultaneously, the frequency of allergic symptoms also rose. These findings underscore the importance of awareness and preventive measures, particularly regarding latex allergies, in the healthcare field.
