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Pressure‐reducing interventions among persons with pressure ulcers: results from the first three national pressure ulcer prevalence surveys in S weden
Author(s) -
Bååth Carina,
Idvall Ewa,
Gunningberg Lena,
Hommel Ami
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of evaluation in clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.737
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1365-2753
pISSN - 1356-1294
DOI - 10.1111/jep.12079
Subject(s) - medicine , psychological intervention , heel , family medicine , disease prevention , nursing interventions classification , environmental health , nursing , anatomy
Rationale, aims and objectives The overall aim of this study was to describe preventive interventions among persons with pressure ulcer ( PU ) in three nationwide PU prevalence surveys in S weden. Methods A cross‐sectional research design was used; more than 70 000 persons from different hospitals and nursing homes participated in the three prevalence surveys conducted in M arch 2011, O ctober 2011 and M arch 2012. The methodology used was that recommended by the E uropean P ressure U lcers A dvisory P anel. Results The overall prevalence of PU categories I – IV in hospitals was 16.6%, 14.4% and 16.1%, respectively. Corresponding figures for nursing homes were 14.5%, 14.2% and 11.8%, respectively. Heel protection/floating heels and sliding sheets were more frequently planned for persons with PU category I . Conclusions Despite the three prevalence studies that have showed high prevalence of PU the use of preventing interventions is still not on an acceptable level. Heel protection/floating heels and sliding sheets were more frequently planned for persons with PUs , and individual‐planned repositioning also increased. However, when persons already have a PU they should all have pressure‐reducing preventive interventions to prevent the development of more PUs . Preventing PUs presents a challenge even when facilities have prevention programmes. A PU prevention programme requires an enthusiastic leader who will maintain the team's focus and direction for all staff involved in patient care.