An Evaluation on the Attitude Toward Using Patient Rights and Satisfaction Levels in Emergency Department Patients.

INTRODUCTION: In emergency health care services, patient satisfaction is one of the fundamental indicators of quality emergency care, making it essential to identify factors that can impact this component of care. This study aimed to determine emergency service patients' attitudes toward using patient rights, their satisfaction levels with emergency service, and related factors. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted with 382 patients who presented to the emergency department between November 2022 and March 2023. Data were collected using the Patient Description Form, the Emergency Department Patient Satisfaction Scale, and the Scale of Patient Rights Using Attitude. The study adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist for reporting. RESULTS: The mean score of the Emergency Department Patient Satisfaction Scale was 53.88 ± 6.88 (minimum score, 30; maximum score, 68), and the mean score of the Scale of Patient Rights Using Attitude was 108.89 ± 11.90 (minimum score, 73; maximum score, 135). As a result of the regression analysis, it was found that the Scale of Patient Rights Using Attitude scores and frequency of ED visits significantly contributed to the Emergency Department Patient Satisfaction Scale scores. Younger patients who had higher educational status presented to the emergency department more frequently and had chronic diseases were associated with positive attitudes about using patient rights and had higher levels of ED patient satisfaction (P < .001). DISCUSSION: The study has provided valuable information for assessing the attitudes of ED patients toward exercising their patient rights and their satisfaction levels. Respect for patient rights and their effective utilization by patients can enhance the quality of ED services and increase patient satisfaction.

Determination of Nurses' Knowledge Levels on Skin Tears: A Cross-sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine nurses' knowledge level about skin tears (STs). METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 346 nurses working in acute care hospitals in Turkey who completed web- or paper-based surveys in September and October 2021. Researchers used the Skin Tear Knowledge Assessment Instrument, which consists of 20 questions across six domains, to assess nurses' level of ST knowledge. RESULTS: The mean age of the nurses was 33.67 (SD, 8.88) years, 80.6% were women, and 73.7% had an undergraduate degree. Nurses' mean number of correct answers on the Skin Tear Knowledge Assessment Instrument was 9.33 (SD, 2.83) of 20 (46.66% [SD, 14.14%]). The mean numbers of correct answers by domain were as follows: etiology, 1.34 (SD, 0.84) of 3; classification and observation, 2.21 (SD, 1.00) of 4; risk assessment, 1.01 (SD, 0.68) of 2; prevention, 2.68 (SD, 1.23) of 6; treatment, 1.66 (SD, 1.05) of 4; and specific patient groups, 0.74 (SD, 0.44) of 1. Significant associations were found among the nurses' ST knowledge scores and whether they had graduated from a nursing program (P = .005), their working years (P = .002), their working unit (P < .001), and whether they provided care to patients with STs (P = .027). CONCLUSIONS: Nurses' level of knowledge of the etiology, classification, risk assessment, prevention, and treatment of STs was low. The authors recommend including more information about STs in basic nursing education, in-service training, and certificate programs to increase nurses' ST knowledge.

Nurses' knowledge and practice in preventing pressure injuries in intensive care units.

OBJECTIVE: Globally, pressure injuries (PIs) are an important problem affecting healthcare institutions and patients. Nurses in multidisciplinary teams, play a crucial role in preventing PIs. Nurses working in intensive care units (ICUs) provide care to patients who are at risk of developing PIs. The aim of this study was to ascertain the knowledge and practices of intensive care nurses in preventing PIs, and to highlight the relationship between this knowledge and the prevalence of PIs. METHOD: This study used a descriptive and correlational design. It was carried out in the level 3 ICU of a university hospital in Kayseri, Turkey. A total of four instruments were used at the data collection stage: a nurse information form; the PI prevention knowledge assessment instrument; PI prevention practices; and a PI Prevalence Form. RESULTS: The population of the study consisted of 111 nurses, 91 (82%) of whom fully participated. The mean score of the nurses' knowledge in preventing PIs was found to be 43.2±11.4%. The most common answer regarding the clinical use of PI prevention practices was: 'always applied'. There was no relationship between PI prevalence and PI prevention knowledge scores of the ICU nurses. CONCLUSION: In this study, it was observed that although nurses reported incorporating PI prevention practices in ICUs, their related knowledge level was insufficient.

Effect of Prophylactic Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy for High-Risk Wounds in Colorectal Cancer Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of prophylactic negative-pressure wound therapy (pNPWT) in patients at high risk of surgical wound complications (SWCs) who underwent colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery. METHODS: In an open-label randomized controlled trial, 50 patients who underwent open CRC surgery between November 2018 and February 2020 were included. Participants were randomly assigned to the pNPWT group (n = 24) or control group (n = 26). For patients in the pNPWT group, the pNPWT device was placed on the wound for 7 days, whereas for patients in the control group, the wound was covered with a sterile gauze dressing. The primary outcome measured was 30-day SWCs: surgical site infection, hematoma, seroma, and wound dehiscence/evisceration. Secondary outcomes included postoperative wound infection assessment score and length of postoperative hospital stay. RESULTS: The incidence of 30-day SWCs differed significantly between the pNPWT and control groups (16.7% vs 53.8% respectively, P = .006). Patients in the pNPWT group had a significantly lower incidence of seroma than did those in the control group (8.3% vs 34.6%, P = .025). Surgical site infection occurred in 10 of 50 patients (20%) in the study: two (8.3%) in the pNPWT group and eight (30.8%) in the control group (P = .048). No hematomas or wound dehiscence/evisceration were noted in the study. There was no difference in median length of stay between groups (P = .153). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed that pNPWT effectively helps prevent SWCs in high-risk wounds after open CRC surgery.