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Pressure ulcer prevalence in Europe: a pilot study
Katrien Vanderwee1, Michael Clark, Carol Dealey
1Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. katrien.vanderwee@ugent.be
Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice
|March 24, 2007
Summary
A new standardized method effectively measured pressure ulcer prevalence across Europe. The study found high prevalence rates and inadequate preventive care, highlighting a critical need for improved prevention strategies in European hospitals.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare quality improvement
- Patient safety research
- Epidemiology of pressure ulcers
Background:
- Existing pressure ulcer prevalence studies lack standardized methodologies, hindering comparability.
- A uniform approach is needed to accurately assess and compare pressure ulcer rates across diverse healthcare settings.
- This study addresses the need for a reliable instrument to measure pressure ulcer prevalence in Europe.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and pilot a standardized data collection instrument and methodology for measuring pressure ulcer prevalence.
- To gain insights into pressure ulcer prevalence across various patient demographics in Europe.
- To establish a robust method for comparing pressure ulcer data internationally.
Main Methods:
- Development of a comprehensive data collection instrument by European pressure ulcer experts.
- Inclusion of general data, patient demographics, risk assessment, skin observation, and prevention details.
- A multi-country survey conducted in university and general hospitals across Belgium, Italy, Portugal, UK, and Sweden.
Main Results:
- The developed instrument and methodology proved effective among participants.
- A total of 5947 patients were surveyed across 25 hospitals in five European countries.
- Overall pressure ulcer prevalence was 18.1% (10.5% excluding grade 1). Sacrum and heels were most affected. Inadequate preventive care was noted in 90.3% of at-risk patients.
Conclusions:
- The established methodology is robust for measuring and comparing pressure ulcer prevalence internationally.
- Identified pressure ulcer prevalence rates exceed expectations, underscoring a significant public health concern.
- A substantial gap in adequate preventive care necessitates increased focus and resources for pressure ulcer prevention in Europe.
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