The knowledge of bedsores prevention among Health and Nursing Department students of Medical University of Białystok.

PURPOSE Despite great advances in 21st century medicine, the problem of bedsores is as important as a couple of dozens years ago. The knowlegle of bedsores cause mechanisms of development, risk factors evaluation and prevention are necessary to effectively them. MATERIAL AND METHODS The aim of our study was the assesment of bedsores prevention knowledge of IIrd year part-time student nurses at Health and Nursing Faculty of Medical Univesity of Białystok. The secondary aim was to determine factors on which this knowledge depends. The research was based on questionnaire created for this purpose. The research target were 50 female students working as nurses in various health service units. The study was performed between May and June 2004. RESULTS Majority of students (68%) did not take part in bedsores prevention courses. Their knowledge was based on nursing school classes they had and self-education (50%). Many hospitals which employed the students did not implement bedsores prevention standards (58%) and did not create Bedsores Prevention Team (50%). CONCLUSIONS According to obtained results, there seems to be an urgent necessity to implement comprehensive action towards increasing bedsores prevention knowledge among part-time students.