The prevalence of pressure ulcers in hospital populations is as high as 18 per cent. The factors that determine pressure ulcer prevalence are old age, lack of mobility, low serum albumin, cognitive disability, and incontinence. However, the prevalence of pressure ulcers can be reduced through systematic work based on interventions. The research addresses the need to reduce the levels of pressure ulcers in hospital patients and equip nursing students with necessary skills from evidence-based practice.
Data was collected by using intervention sheets (quantitative data) and documentation study (qualitative data). Intervention sheets were used to collect data of patients regarding their age, number of hospitalization days, results of skin observation, modified Norton score, presence/absence of a pressure ulcer at the points of admission as well as discharge, and, finally, nursing interventions. That data was later analyzed with the help of SPSS. The total of 54 patients took part in Intervention phases I and II. Both male and female patients were involved, with mean age 82 years (both sexes) in phase I, and 75 (for males) and 79 years (for females) in phase II.
Data analysis showed that the evidence-based intervention aimed at reducing the incidences of pressure ulcers was successful. Patients’ safety and the quality of care were found to improve. In phase II, no patients developed the problem during hospital stay (after phase I, 5 patients still had it). While one of the factors could be the patients’ younger age, it is reasonable to assume that the small-scale intervention that was carried out on the patients at high risk of pressure ulcer development positively influenced the quality of nursing care. The study also confirmed the effectiveness of nursing students’ gaining of knowledge through evidence-based practice so that it could be adequately incorporated into everyday practice.
- Holst, G., Willman, A., Fagerstrom, C., Borg, C., Hellstrom, Y., Borglin, G. (2010). Quality of care: prevention of pressure ulcers – nursing students facilitating evidence-based practice. Nordic Journal of Nursing Research and Clinical Studies, 30 (1), 40-42.
