The relationship between pressure ulcer risk assessment and preventative interventions: a systematic review

Hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (PU) continue to occur despite an ongoing focus on prevention. The aim of this review was to identify and evaluate primary research which links pressure ulcer risk assessment with prescription and implementation of preventative interventions for hospitalised adults.

A systematic review of the databases EBSCO CINAHL Complete, EBSCO MEDLINE Complete, Scopus and Web of Science was undertaken, using search terms related to pressure ulcers, hospital-acquired, risk, planning, implementation, prevention and outcome. Primary research reports that linked PU risk assessment with prescription and implementation of preventative interventions in some way were included.

From 589 potentially eligible publications, 20 primary research reports were included. Of these, seven linked PU risk assessment to preventative intervention implementation and 13 linked it to preventative intervention prescription and implementation in some way. No studies linked PU risk assessment to preventative intervention prescription alone.

While the included studies linked these components in some way, there was little focus on the relationship between the three. PU preventative intervention prescription is not well defined, with inconsistencies noted in intervention prescription across studies. Many studies reported inadequate provision of prevention measures for patients at risk of PU. Further research is required to explore the relationship between PU risk assessment and preventative intervention prescription alone, and with implementation.