Assessment of Nursing Students’ Knowledge Levels and Determinants Related to Pressure Injury Classification and Staging

Background: Pressure injuries (PIs) are a major patient safety concern associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Accurate diagnosis and classification of PIs are crucial for effective prevention and management. However, both nurses and nursing students frequently demonstrate insufficient knowledge and make errors in this area.

Aim: This study aimed to assess nursing students’ competence in the classification of PI categories and staging by examining their level of knowledge and the factors influencing it.

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between December 2022 and July 2023 and included 300 undergraduate nursing students. Data were collected online using the Student Information Form and the 20-item multiple-choice Pressure Injury Test (PI-TEST). Descriptive statistics and independent samples t-tests were performed, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the optimal cut-off score.

Results: Among the participants, 88.3% were female, 61.3% were nursing students at foundation universities, 55.3% were fourth-year students, and 71.0% had received undergraduate education on PIs. The mean PI-TEST score was 56.36±19.05 out of 100. The highest correct response rates were observed for Stage 1, Stage 4, and Mucosal Membrane PIs, whereas Stage 3 and Deep Tissue PIs had the highest rates of incorrect responses. Participants who had received education on PIs and who had provided care to patients with PIs and at risk for PIs during clinical practice had significantly higher knowledge scores.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that nursing students’ knowledge regarding PI is insufficient. The results highlight the need to incorporate both theoretical and practical content on pressure injury-related topics into undergraduate nursing curricula.

Keywords: Classification, nursing students, pressure injury, staging