Researchers examined data on hospital-acquired pressure ulcers and prevention from the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators 2010 Pressure Ulcer Surveys, which included data from 1,419 hospitals and 710,626 patients. They identified pressure ulcer prevention interventions as well as hospital characteristics associated with a low or high risk of patients developing pressure ulcers.
Overall, 3.6 percent of patients developed a hospital-acquired pressure ulcer, with 7.9 percent of at-risk patients developing one. The authors identified the following variables associated with a lower pressure ulcer risk:
• Skin and pressure ulcer risk assessment on admission
• Recent reassessment of pressure ulcer risk
• Higher Braden Scale scores
• Recent skin assessment
• Routine repositioning
• Magnet or Magnet-applicant designation
The following variables were associated with a higher pressure ulcer risk:
• Provision of nutritional support
• Moisture management
• Larger hospital size
• Academic medical center status
The authors noted that the positive correlation between nutritional support and pressure ulcer risk and moisture management and pressure ulcer risk was surprising, and that these interventions may have been implemented after a pressure ulcer was discovered.
More Articles on Pressure Ulcers:
Study Finds Unexpectedly High Pressure Ulcer Rates for Pediatric Patients
Study: 3 Interventions Nearly Eliminate Hospital-Acquired Pressure Ulcers
Patient Safety Tool: Hospital-Acquired Pressure Ulcer Prevention Guide
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