Surgical intensive care nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and practices on preventing medical device related pressure injury: A cross-sectional study

Medical device-related pressure injury (MDRPI) is a preventable but significant problem in intensive care unit (ICU). Adequate knowledge and positive attitudes among nurses are essential to ensure early identification and prevention. This study examined surgical ICU nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported preventive practices regarding MDRPIs. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between January and February 2024 in the surgical ICUs of one tertiary-level university hospital and one secondary-level public hospital in Türkiye. The study included 84 nurses. Data were collected using a nurse information form and validated instruments assessing MDRPI-related knowledge (MDRPI-KAT) and attitudes (MDRPU/I Questionnaire). The mean MDRPI-KAT score was 8.98 ± 2.55, and the mean MDRPU/I total score was 20.79 ± 6.69. Knowledge scores showed a weak positive association with overall attitude (r = 0.231, p = 0.035) and a very weak but significant association with the attitude toward care subscale (r = 0.329, p = 0.002). Surgical ICU nurses demonstrated insufficient knowledge and negative attitudes toward MDRPI prevention, despite reporting frequent preventive practices. Regular structured training programs and evidence-based clinical protocols are essential to improve MDRPI prevention in ICUs.