Consistent Practices in Pressure Injury Prevention at Long-term Care Facilities

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Nursing Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Pressure injuries (PIs) are a significant concern in long-term care facilities.
• Adherence to international guidelines for PI prevention is crucial for patient outcomes.
• Variability in prevention practices can impact the effectiveness of care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the consistency of pressure injury prevention practices in Finnish long-term care facilities.
• To assess adherence to international PI prevention guidelines.
• To identify factors influencing the implementation of PI prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

• Correlational cross-sectional study design.
• Data collected from 84 contact persons across 62 long-term care facilities in Finland.
• Utilized the Pressure Ulcer Prevention Practice instrument for data collection.

Main Results:

• Skin assessment and skin care were the most frequently reported PI prevention strategies; nutrition was least common.
• Consistent practices were highest for repositioning and lowest for risk assessment.
• Respondent demographics, knowledge, and guideline awareness correlated with prevention practice frequency.

Conclusions:

• Respondents reported moderate adherence to international PI prevention guidelines, but consistent practices were often lacking.
• Significant variability exists in the implementation of PI prevention strategies within units.
• Enhanced education on evidence-based PI prevention is suggested to improve practice consistency.