Preventing Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries: A Comprehensive Review of Evidence-Based Quality Improvement...

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) present a significant, preventable risk to patient safety and healthcare costs.
• Evidence-based prevention strategies are crucial for reducing HAPI incidence and achieving institutional quality objectives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize evidence-based quality improvement interventions.
• Focus on preventing nondevice-related HAPIs within US hospital settings.

Main Methods:

• An integrative review framework (Whittemore and Knafl) was employed.
• Systematic search of four databases for studies published between 2015 and 2023.
• Quality appraisal using the Quality Improvement Minimum Quality Criteria Set.

Main Results:

• Ten studies met the inclusion criteria from 178 screened records.
• Identified interventions clustered into four main categories: turn teams, documentation enhancements, protocol strategies, and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Conclusions:

• Effective HAPI prevention necessitates coordinated, system-level, interprofessional interventions.
• Engaged leadership is vital for successful implementation.
• Future research should prioritize sustainability, scalability, and fidelity, utilizing standardized quality improvement reporting frameworks.