Table 3.
Wound care knowledge and practices (n=361).
| Topic | Scorea (Correct %) | Rank | |||
| Wound care knowledge |
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Identify image of an abrasion wound | 9.9 (86.4b) | 1 | ||
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Identify image of a diabetic foot | 6.4 (63.7c) | 2 | ||
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Identify image of a pressure ulcer wound | 4.3 (42.7d) | 3 | ||
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I believe not smoking promotes wound healing | 10 (99.7) | 1 | ||
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I believe nutrition may be a factor in promoting wound healing | 9.4 (94.2) | 2 | ||
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I believe getting enough sleep may be a factor in promoting wound healing | 9.3 (93.4) | 3 | ||
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I believe not using steroids may be a factor in promoting wound healing | 7.6 (75.6) | 4 | ||
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I believe keeping the moisture balance of the wound bed can help wound healing | 5.8 (58.0) | 5 | ||
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I believe appropriate exercise may be a factor in promoting wound healing | 4.0 (40.1) | 6 | ||
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I believe abnormal exudate may be a sign of wound infection | 9.4 (93.6) | 1 | ||
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I believe redness and swelling may be signs of wound infection | 7.8 (77.6) | 2 | ||
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I believe fever may be a sign of wound infection | 6.8 (67.6) | 3 | ||
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I believe pain may be a sign of wound infection | 6.3 (63.4) | 4 | ||
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I believe cold may be a sign of wound infection | 1.2 (11.6) | 5 | ||
| Wound care practices |
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Assess wound appearance before dressing (eg, redness, exudate) | 9.4 (93.9) | 1 | ||
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Wash hands before dressing wound | 9.1 (90.6) | 3 | ||
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Remove gauze after rinsing wound with normal saline solution or boiled water | 6.7 (67.1e) | 7 | ||
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Use normal saline solution or boiled water to clean wound | 7.0 (69.6f) | 6 | ||
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Use sterile cotton swab to dress wound | 2.2 (22.4g) | 8 | ||
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Use dressing that covers wound margin by at least 1 cm all around | 9.3 (92.8h) | 2 | ||
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Contact position between the finger/clip and the dressing when covering | 7.7 (76.8i) | 5 | ||
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Wash hands after dressing wound | 8.3 (82.9) | 4 | ||
aCorrect-error scales: 10=correct, 0=error.
bBruising (0.8%), laceration (10.2%), cuts (0.3%), burns (1.9%), arteriovenous ulcer (0.3%).
cBruising (2.5%), laceration (0.3%), abrasion/contusion (1.1%), burns (20.5%), arteriovenous ulcer (6.1%), pressure ulcer (5.8%).
dBruising (3.6%), laceration (5.5%), cuts (0.6%), abrasion/contusion (10%), burns (13.6%), diabetic foot (17.7%), arteriovenous ulcer (6.4%).
eRemoving sticking gauze directly (23.0%), removing gauze after rinsing with tap water (2.5%), removing gauze after rinsing with povidone-iodine solution (2.5%), removing gauze after rinsing with alcohol-iodine solution (2.8%), removing gauze after rinsing with hydrogen peroxide solution (1.1%), other (1%).
fNo cleaning of wound (5.8%), tissue (7.2%), gauze (5.3%), tap water (10.2%), other (1.7%).
gTissue (3.6%), gauze (15.5%), nonsterile cotton swab (22.4%), other (1.1%).
hSmaller than wound’s margin (2.2%); equal to wound’s margin (5%).
iThe wound contact side of dressing (23.2%).