Development of prone positioning and skin damage prevention digital education: the PRONEtect project

Enhancing prone positioning and skin damage prevention education: A randomized controlled non-inferiority trial comparing a digital education hub (PRONEtect) and a traditional lecture on final-year nursing participants' confidence and knowledge

INTRODUCTION

The incidence of pressure ulcers remains high in patients with moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, ventilated in the prone position. A digital platform, dedicated to prone positioning and skin/tissue damage education was developed.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of the PRONEtect Education Hub versus a traditional lecture on final-year nursing students' confidence levels and knowledge in a non-inferiority study.

DESIGN

A multicenter, non-blinded, parallel-group, non-inferiority study with equal randomization (1:1 allocation) was conducted at two nursing schools in Belgium.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov (NCT05575869).

METHODS

Following baseline assessments, the control group received a 1-h classroom lecture, and the experimental group gained access to the PRONEtect website. Three weeks later, participants completed the knowledge, confidence, and visual knowledge assessment.

RESULTS

At baseline, 67 of the 80 participants completed the assessments and post-intervention, 28 and 27 participants respectively completed the confidence, knowledge, and visual knowledge assessments (dropout rate of 66.25%). Confidence levels: a mean ratio of relative change from baseline = 0.96 (Control (C)/Experimental (E)); 97.5% confidence interval (CI): 0.74 to 1.26; p = 0.74. Knowledge assessment: a mean difference in change from baseline = 1.58 (C-E); 97.5% CI: -0.58 to 3.75; p = 0.1. Although confidence and knowledge scores increased in both groups, the study cannot conclude non-inferiority.

CONCLUSIONS

The trade-off between the inability to conclude efficacy of the impact of the website and the benefit of having an accessible educational platform on prone positioning and skin damage prevention makes the PRONEtect Education Hub an acceptable adjunct to traditional lecturing.

Educational interventions on preventing pressure injuries targeted at nurses: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Although preventable, pressure injuries are commonly observed in the hospital setting and are estimated to be the third most costly condition, after cancer and cardiovascular disease.

AIM

Nurses play a crucial role in the prevention and management of pressure injuries, however, published evidence on the effectiveness of educational interventions, directed specifically at nurses in the hospital environment, is scarce.

METHOD

The authors retrieved published studies on the subject from selected databases (Pubmed/Medline, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library) in a number of languages (Portuguese, English, French and Spanish). The search yielded randomised controlled trials, as well as quasi-experimental and comparative studies.

FINDINGS

In total, 11 studies were selected. The outcomes analysed, following some type of educational intervention, included the attitudes and knowledge of the nursing professionals, as well as the incidence of pressure injuries.

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrated that different educational strategies can help prevent pressure injuries in the hospital environment.