,
Faculty of Medicine of the University of Banja Luka , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Family Medicine, Public health institution Health center Banja Luka , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Islamic pedagogical faculty, Pedagogical faculty, University of Bihać , Bihać , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Faculty of Medicine of the University of Banja Luka , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Public health institution Health center Banja Luka , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Faculty of Medicine of the University of Banja Luka , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Public health institution Health center Banja Luka , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Faculty of Medicine of the University of Banja Luka , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Introduction. Pressure ulcers are frequent complications among immobile neurological patients, particularly those with stroke. Nursing knowledge and consistent implementation of preventive measures play a crucial role in reducing their occurrence. The aims of this study are to assess nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and self-reported competence in pressure ulcer prevention and care, and to describe the prevalence and short-term healing outcomes of pressure ulcers
among hospitalized stroke patients.
Methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 40 nurses/medical technicians using a structured, non-validated questionnaire. Medical records of 375 consecutively hospitalized patients with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke were reviewed to determine the occurrence and management of pressure ulcers.
Results. Nurses demonstrated good knowledge of fundamental preventive principles, although gaps were identified in epidemiology and recognition of certain complications. Pressure ulcers were documented in both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients, with an overall prevalence of 5.1%. Conservative treatment was most frequently applied, and most ulcers were recorded as healed at discharge.
Conclusion. Nursing knowledge appears generally adequate, but specific gaps indicate the need for targeted educational interventions. Interpretation of prevalence and outcomes is limited by the absence of validated assessment instruments and standardized documentation.
Conceptualization, V.P.; Data curation, V.P.; Investigation, V.P. and A.B.; Methodology, V.P. and A.B.; Project administration, V.P. and A.B.; Writing – original draft, V.P. and A.B.; Writing – review & editing, V.P.; Software, A.B.; Formal Analysis, K.S. and S.S.; Supervision, G.T. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Personal data of respondents were obtained with their consent, were used for the purposes of this research and are not publicly available.
On 15.10.2024. we declare that no other person than the author participated in the creation of this work. There was no financial and material help in the form of sponsorships, scholarships, gifts, equipment, medicines, etc.
Authors retain copyright. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. 
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