Positive Health Online
Your Country
![[Image: http://www.abundanceandhealth.co.uk]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/2836.df7d2315253110ff5b3a566f94871f99.jpg "http://www.abundanceandhealth.co.uk")
![[Image: https://www.water-for-health.co.uk/]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/4046.12831f50177f8848ee87b8e94411d6b3.jpg "https://www.water-for-health.co.uk/")
![[Image: http://www.balens.co.uk]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/2148.50367fa908013fae0a7f1a171543ef92.jpg "http://www.balens.co.uk")
![[Image: http://www.drsgoodman.com/books-goodman/52-nutrition-and-cancer]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/1859.1296090fd8385e7ceff51c8011559097.jpg "http://www.drsgoodman.com/books-goodman/52-nutrition-and-cancer")
Research: DUIMEL-PEETERS and co-workers,
Listed in Issue 133
Abstract
DUIMEL-PEETERS and co-workers, Department of Health Care Studies/Section Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiteit Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands, have studied the knowledge, beliefs, and practice of massage in the prevention of pressure ulcers.
Background
Pressure ulcers are a major problem in all areas of health care in the Netherlands. The value of national guidelines for their prevention and treatment can be questioned because it seems they are not in line with the beliefs and practice of the caregivers and only 5% of them are evidence-based. The aim of this study was to get a better insight into nurses’ current knowledge, beliefs and performed practices relating to massage.
Methodology
A cross-sectional comparative study was designed using written questionnaires. Questions were formulated regarding knowledge and beliefs about prevention methods and the actual use of these methods in the prevention of pressure ulcers. The 2003-survey population consisted of nurses working in the Netherlands and was approached at random.
Results
Compared with the 1991 findings, the 2003 results show an improvement for the topic of pressure ulcers, but a deterioration regarding dehydration. It is obvious that the knowledge of the current CBO-guidelines on massage is still not as widely distributed as it should be. The overall conclusion is that the differences in responses between 1991 and 2003 are significant and suggest that the nurses were better informed in 2003.
Conclusion
For the improvement of health care in the domain of pressure ulcer prevention, more than an accurate implementation of new or existing guidelines is needed.
References
Duimel-Peeters IG, Hulsenboom MA, Berger MP, Snoeckx LH, Halfens RJ. Massage to prevent pressure ulcers: knowledge, beliefs and practice. A cross-sectional study among nurses in the Netherlands in 1991 and 2003.. Journal of Clinical Nursing 15 (4): 428-435, Apr 2006.
