title: Patients with pressure ulcers in Finnish hospitals.
abstract: The purpose of this descriptive study was to produce knowledge of the degree of pressure ulcers, pressure ulcer patients' physical and psychological well-being and the association of these factors with pressure ulcers' severity. These patients were treated in Finland's capital area hospitals. The pressure ulcer patients' sampling was gathered during 1 day with two questionnaires, which was completed by nurses. The response rate was 94%, and data analysis was based on percentage distributions. Statistical association was tested with the chi2 test. The measurement identified 164 patients with a total of 257 pressure ulcers. Prevalence was 6.4%. Most of the ulcers (40%) were grade II ulcers. Fifty-six per cent of patients suffered poor general health, 63% of the patients were immobile, but psychological well-being was better with 29% of pressure ulcer patients being adequately motivated to follow treatment for their pressure ulcers. It is essential to identify high-risk patients in order to provide optimal care.
authors.affiliation: Department of PICU Helsinki University Central Hospital, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Finland. jyri.lepisto@pp.fimnet.fi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lepistö
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hietanen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asko-Seljavaara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006302:Health Services Research; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires