Hospital-acquired pressure sores in surgical patients

This study is based on a retrospective analysis of case notes of 314 elective and emergency patients who underwent major surgical procedures between November 1995 and March 1996. The research is part of a larger project on pressure sores in surgical patients. The effects of patient characteristics and the organisational processes of care on the development of hospital-acquired pressure sores were examined. Factors identified can be used as parameters in the assessment of pressure sore risk in surgical patients. This report presents the preliminary results of the univariate statistical analysis.