Assessment of Nurses' Readiness for Care of Patients Who Undertake Negative Pressure Wound Therapy

Hassan, Abedlrhman Ali; Ali, Ghona Abd El-Nasser; Galal, Abdelrahman Mohamad; Eldawood, Heba Gomaa

doi:10.21608/sjns.2025.398354.1081

Assessment of Nurses' Readiness for Care of Patients Who Undertake Negative Pressure Wound Therapy

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ ِAdministrator of Medical-Surgical Nursing

² Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Shohag University, Egypt

³ General Oncologic and Laparoscopic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Egypt

⁴ Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Sohag University, Egypt

10.21608/sjns.2025.398354.1081

Abstract

Background: Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), sometimes called vacuum-assisted closure, is a wound management method that uses suction to aid the healing process. It involves placing a sealed dressing over the wound, which is linked to a vacuum pump that extracts excess fluids and enhances circulation around the affected area. This therapy helps to decrease swelling, lower the chance of infection, and encourage the development of healthy tissue. Aim of the study: to assess nurses' readiness for care of patients who undertake negative pressure wound therapy. Research design: A descriptive research design was utilized to achieve the aim of the study. Setting: This study was carried out at the surgical departments at Sohag University Hospital, which included four departments: Plastic, Vascular, General Surgical, and Orthopedic departments. Sample: A convenience sample of (100) nurses worked at surgical departments was selected. Data Collection Tools: Two tools were used for data collection. Tool (I): A structured interview questionnaire sheet. It included three parts to cover the following data: Part (I): Demographic data sheet, Part (II): Nurses’ knowledge questionnaire regarding negative pressure wound therapy and Part (III): Nurses' practical knowledge questionnaire regarding the care of patients undertaking negative pressure wound therapy device. Tool (II): Observational checklists to assess nurses' practice for applying negative pressure wound therapy dressing. Results: Findings revealed that more than half of the nurses were female, 72% being married. The average age was 28.8 ± 6.05 years. Approximately 68% of nurses demonstrated unsatisfactory overall knowledge of negative pressure wound therapy, and 80% were found to have inadequate practical skills in negative pressure wound therapy application, with only 20% classified as adequate. Conclusion: The findings of the current study demonstrated a significant positive statistical relationship between the nurses' overall knowledge and their practice levels regarding negative pressure wound therapy at (p-value >0.001). Recommendations: It is recommended to organize regular in-service training sessions to enhance the knowledge and clinical skills of nursing staff concerning negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT).

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