The effectiveness of pressure ulcer prevention programme: A comparative study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Patient Safety
• Wound Care Management

Background:

• Hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs) are a significant concern in healthcare settings, posing risks for patient complications.
• HAPUs are key hospital quality indicators necessitating targeted quality initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a newly developed quality improvement program in preventing hospital-acquired pressure ulcers.
• To assess the impact of a comprehensive pressure ulcer prevention program (PUPP) over a five-year period.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective comparative study analyzed data from 50,441 patients across various units in a tertiary hospital from 2014 to 2018.
• The program involved establishing a wound care team, educating staff and patients, continuous data monitoring, and post-discharge follow-up.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant reduction in HAPUs was observed, decreasing from 0.20% in 2014 to 0.06% in 2018 (P < .001).
• The pressure ulcer prevention program (PUPP) demonstrated high effectiveness in decreasing the incidence of pressure ulcers.

Conclusions:

• The implemented quality improvement program was highly effective in reducing hospital-acquired pressure ulcers.
• The successful pressure ulcer prevention program (PUPP) is recommended for broader implementation in other hospitals.