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Pressure ulcer prevalence in intensive care patients: a cross-sectional study

Eman S M Shahin1, Theo Dassen, Ruud J G Halfens

  • 1Department of Nursing Science, Centre for the Humanitities and Health Sciences, Charlité, Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Berlin, Germany. eman.shahin@charite.de

Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice
|May 9, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Pressure ulcer prevalence in intensive care units averaged 30% but decreased to 16.2% by 2006. Key factors influencing pressure ulcers include patient age, Braden score, and bowel incontinence, highlighting the need for targeted prevention.

Area of Science:

  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Nursing Science
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Pressure ulcers are a significant complication for intensive care patients, posing a major challenge for nursing care.
  • Effective prevention strategies are crucial for improving patient outcomes in intensive care settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess pressure ulcer prevalence in intensive care patients.
  • To identify patient characteristics and preventive measures associated with pressure ulcer development.
  • To determine the most common body sites affected by pressure ulcers.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study design was employed.
  • A total of 1760 patients from surgical, medical, and interdisciplinary intensive care units were included over a five-year period (2002-2006).

Main Results:

  • The mean pressure ulcer prevalence rate was approximately 30% from 2002 to 2005, significantly decreasing to 16.2% in 2006.
  • Half of the pressure ulcers identified were of Grade 1 severity.
  • A significant association was observed between pressure ulcer presence and patient age, Braden score, and bowel incontinence.

Conclusions:

  • The selection of appropriate preventive materials, devices, and nursing care measures is essential.
  • Addressing patient-specific factors, such as age, Braden score, and bowel incontinence, is critical for effective pressure ulcer prevention in intensive care.
Abstract

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