"Conocimientos y prácticas del personal profesional de enfermería sobre el uso de antisépticos en curación de heridas. Azogues, marzo- agosto 2024"

Abstract

Antiseptics are chemical agents applied to the skin or living tissues to inhibit microbial growth, primarily used for preventative or therapeutic purposes in wound management. Objective: This study aims to assess the knowledge and practices of nursing professionals regarding antiseptic use in wound healing. Materials and Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with a sample of 173 nursing professionals who completed a survey validated by De Souza et al. (2014) to evaluate knowledge and practices associated with antiseptic use in wound healing. The instrument employed was a 32-item checklist with dichotomous questions administered through Google Forms using phone contacts. Results: Among participants, 41.4% were aged 31-35, 91.4% were female, 75.9% held higher education level, and 19% worked in inpatient care. While 53.4% demonstrated acceptable knowledge, only 8.6% exhibited excellent knowledge. In terms of practices, 98.3% demonstrated outstanding performance. Concerning women surveyed, 51.7% had satisfactory knowledge, 34.5% of those with higher education had moderate knowledge, and 34.5% of participants with 6-10 years of experience exhibited proper knowledge and excellent practices. Conclusions: The survey findings indicate that 41.5% of respondents were aged 31-35, 91.4% were female, with less than five years of work experience, higher education level, and employed in inpatient care, 53.4% held appropriate knowledge, and 98.3% demonstrated excellent practices.

Keywords: antiseptic, knowledge and practices, wound healing, nursing.