Evaluating the impact of the Tissue Viability Seating guidelines

Area of Science:

• Clinical Practice Guidelines
• Healthcare Policy
• Pressure Ulcer Prevention

Background:

• Clinical practice guidelines aim for safe, effective, and person-centered care.
• The use of guidelines in clinical settings is often inconsistent.
• The Tissue Viability Society (TVS) released updated seating guidelines in 2017, but their adoption is not well-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the TVS Seating Guidelines on clinical practice and policy.
• To understand the extent of guideline implementation among healthcare professionals.
• To identify facilitators and barriers to the adoption of seating guidelines.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was distributed from September to December 2019.
• Participants included individuals involved in seating and pressure ulcer prevention and management.
• The survey was disseminated via email to TVS members and social media platforms.

Main Results:

• Thirty-nine responses were received, primarily from UK healthcare professionals in primary and secondary care.
• Eleven respondents incorporated the guidelines into policy, and sixteen into practice.
• Key themes included guideline integration into practice, education, training, and dissemination; barriers involved lack of awareness of guidelines and responsibilities.

Conclusions:

• The survey indicates some successful implementation of the TVS Seating guidelines.
• Future guidelines should incorporate specific implementation strategies, interventions, and goals for local champions.
• Addressing barriers to implementation and potentially piloting future guidelines are recommended.