Intensive Care Nurses’ Adherence to Evidence‐Based Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers and Their Self‐Efficacy: A Cross‐Sectional Study

Nurses' knowledge levels, clinical skills, self-efficacy, and practices play a decisive role in the prevention and management of pressure ulcers. The study aimed to evaluate intensive care nurses in a Turkish university hospital, evidence-based practices and self-efficacy levels in the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers and to determine factors influencing self-efficacy. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 134 nurses working in intensive care units of a university hospital. Data were collected using the Pressure Ulcer Management Self-Efficacy Scale and an Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Assessment Form. The mean pressure ulcer self-efficacy score was 57.07 ± 19.28, with the highest in assessment and the lowest in planning. The self-efficacy level was significantly positively correlated with age and the number of patients receiving pressure ulcer care per week. The self-efficacy levels of nurses who had not received training on pressure ulcers and who perceived their knowledge and skills as insufficient were significantly lower. The Braden Scale was widely used, whereas the use of wound assessment scales and modern dressing methods was limited. Nurses' self-efficacy regarding the management of pressure ulcers was above the average level and was affected by age, experience, and education level. Risk assessment was widely practiced, whereas individualised care and advanced treatment methods were insufficient. Regular evidence-based training and hands-on workshops for intensive care nurses may enhance self-efficacy and improve care quality.