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Development of a decision tree for support surfaces: a tool for nursing.
J B Warren1, L H Yoder, S Young-McCaughan
1Department of Nursing, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA.
Medsurg Nursing : Official Journal of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses
|February 8, 2000
Summary
Specialty support surfaces aid at-risk patients but are costly. A decision tree helps clinicians choose the right surface, optimizing patient care and resource use.
Area of Science:
- Clinical practice guidelines
- Healthcare management
- Patient safety
Background:
- Specialty support surfaces offer clinical benefits for patients at risk of pressure injuries.
- The cost of these surfaces necessitates careful monitoring and selection.
- Inappropriate use can lead to significant financial expenditure without commensurate clinical gains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the development and testing of a decision tree for selecting specialty support surfaces.
- To provide a framework for healthcare providers to optimize the use of support surfaces.
- To improve clinical decision-making regarding patient support surface allocation.
Main Methods:
- Development of a clinical decision support tool (decision tree).
- Testing and validation of the decision tree within a medical center setting.
- Evaluation of the decision tree's utility in guiding support surface selection based on patient condition.
Main Results:
- The decision tree provides a structured approach to selecting appropriate support surfaces.
- Implementation of the decision tree can potentially reduce costs associated with unnecessary surface use.
- Clinical staff can be guided effectively in choosing the most suitable support surface for individual patient needs.
Conclusions:
- A decision tree is an effective tool for guiding the selection of specialty support surfaces.
- Optimized selection of support surfaces can enhance clinical outcomes while managing costs.
- This approach supports evidence-based practice in pressure injury prevention and management.
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