Knowledge and practice of wound care among nurses in Jigme Dorji Wangchuck NationalReferral Hospital in Bhutan

Abstract

Wound care is a fundamental aspect of nursing that directly influences patient recovery, safety, and quality of life. Despite its importance, global research highlights a consistent gap between nurses’ wound care knowledge and their clinical practice. In Bhutan, however, this issue has received limited research attention. This study aims to assess the wound care knowledge and dressing practices of Bhutanese nurses, identify knowledge and practice gaps, and provide baseline evidence to inform future training and policy interventions. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 148 nurses (69% female and 31% male) from 12 wards of a Bhutanese hospital. Participants were selected using Yamane’s formula and convenience sampling (ref). Data were collected between October and December 2021 using a validated self-administered questionnaire to assess knowledge and a direct observation checklist to evaluate wound care practices. Data were analyzed using Epi-Data software with descriptive statistics and correlation analysis, and a significance level of p < 0.05. While 86% demonstrated excellent wound