Investigation of the Knoll Assessment Scale in a tertiary care facility

The purpose of this study was to assist in assessing the validity and reliability of adaptation of the Knoll Tool, Assessment of Pressure Ulcer Potential. Data were retrospectively collected from charts of a random sample of patients (n = 62) who were admitted to a tertiary care facility. Total risk scores ranged from 0 to 22 with a mean of 8.7 and a standard deviation of 6.37. The alpha for the total assessment tool was .6352 with a standardized item alpha of .5973. Discriminant analysis predicted group membership at 62.9%. Group membership was most accurately predicted in Group 1 (76.9%). Discriminant analysis using a score of 11 predicted only 46.8% of group membership, although Group 1 predicted 88.5% and Group 4 predicted 85.7%. Low predictions may be related to small sample size.