概況

Objective:
To assess the nursing knowledge of chronic wound care among postgraduate diploma nurses and new graduate nurses in Macao in order to obtain the reference information for future curriculum design.

Methods:
A cross-sectional descriptive study with convenient sampling method was used to recruit 69 postgraduate diploma nurses (PGDNs) and 38 newly graduated nurses (NGNs). Questionnaire on chronic wound care by Ayello and Meaney in 2005 was used. Chi-square analysis was performed to exam the discrepancy of nursing knowledge on chronic wound care between groups.

Results:
Excluding questions number 14, 19, 20 and 21 (not true or false answer questions), the percentage of correct answer for the other 17 questions is from 62.3% to 95.7% and from 23.7% to 94.7% for PGDNs and NGNs participants, respectively. Chi-square analysis demonstrates the difference of most questions between the two groups is statistically significant.

Conclusions:
The survey highlights a higher standard of wound care knowledge among PGDNs than NGNs, which propose the need of strengthening wound care content in the current basic nursing education programs. The findings also emphasize the importance of continuing education program on wound care for nursing clinicians as both PDN and NGN have difficulties in identifying wound severity and implementation of current guidelines.