The Hampton-Gledhill 2-stage pressure risk-assessment system

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Legal Medicine
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Pressure ulcers are largely preventable but remain a significant cause of patient mortality.
• Legal cases involving nurses and patient deaths from pressure ulcers highlight a gap in early detection and prevention strategies.
• Healthcare assistants (HCAs) play a crucial role in patient care and require enhanced awareness of pressure damage indicators.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple, accessible method for HCAs to assess early-stage skin changes indicative of pressure damage.
• To provide HCAs with a clear framework for action upon identifying potential pressure damage.
• To reduce the incidence of severe pressure ulcers and subsequent legal ramifications for nursing staff.

Main Methods:

• Development of the Hampton-Gledhill 2-stage pressure risk-assessment system.
• Creation of a practical assessment card for HCAs.
• Validation of the assessment system in UK nursing homes and hospitals.

Main Results:

• The Hampton-Gledhill card provides HCAs with a tool for recognizing and responding to first-stage pressure damage.
• The system aims to empower HCAs with knowledge, thereby supporting supervising nurses and mitigating legal risks.
• Ongoing validation studies are assessing the effectiveness and usability of the risk-assessment system.

Conclusions:

• Improved HCA awareness and a structured assessment framework can prevent severe pressure ulcers.
• The Hampton-Gledhill system offers a practical solution to enhance early pressure damage detection and management.
• This initiative has the potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce litigation in nursing practice.