Nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding major immobility complications among bedridden patients: A prospective multicentre study

Aims and objectives To gain insight into nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding major immobility complications (pressure ulcers, pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis and urinary tract infections) and explore the correlation of nurses’ knowledge and attitudes with the incidence of these complications. Background Immobility complications have adverse consequences, and effective management requires appropriate knowledge, attitudes and skills. Evidence about nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding immobility complications is lacking. Design Cross‐sectional study. Methods A total of 3,903 nurses and 21,333 bedridden patients from 25 hospitals in China were surveyed. Nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding major immobility complications were assessed using researcher‐developed questionnaires. The content validity, reliability and internal consistency of the questionnaires were validated through expert review and a pilot study. The incidence of major immobility complications among bedridden patients from selected wards was surveyed by trained investigators. Correlations between knowledge, attitudes and the incidence of major immobility complications were evaluated with multilevel regression models. Results Mean knowledge scores were 64.07% for pressure ulcers, 72.92% for deep vein thrombosis, 76.54% for pneumonia and 83.30% for urinary tract infections. Mean attitude scores for these complications were 86.25%, 84.31%, 85.00% and 84.53%, respectively. Knowledge and attitude scores were significantly higher among nurses with older age, longer employment duration, higher education level, previous training experience and those working in tertiary hospitals or critical care units. Nurses’ knowledge about pressure ulcers was negatively related to the incidence of pressure ulcers, and attitude towards pneumonia was negatively correlated with the incidence of pneumonia. Conclusion Clinical nurses have relatively positive attitudes but inadequate knowledge regarding major immobility complications. Improved knowledge and attitudes regarding major immobility complications may contribute to reducing these complications. Relevance to Clinical Practice Nursing managers should implement measures to improve nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding major immobility complications to reduce the incidence of these complications in bedridden patients.