Implementation of a new policy results in a decrease of pressure ulcer frequency.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of a new policy on the efficiency of pressure ulcer care.


METHODS
Series of 1-day pressure ulcer surveys before and after the implementation.


METHODS
A 900-bed University Medical Centre in The Netherlands.


METHODS
On the days of the surveys, 657 patients were included before the implementation, 735 patients at 4 months after the implementation, and 755 patients at 11 months after the implementation.


METHODS
Implementation of a hospital guideline for pressure ulcer care combined with the introduction of viscoelastic foam mattresses on the efficiency of the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers.


METHODS
Comparisons before versus after the implementation were made regarding the care behaviour of nurses and the frequency of patients with pressure ulcer.


RESULTS
Inadequate prevention decreased from 19 to 4% after 4 months and to 6% after 11 months (P < 0.001), and inadequate treatment decreased from 60 to 31% (P = 0.005). Excluding the use of mattresses as a positive indicator for care behaviour, we found no significant increase in adequate care to prevent pressure ulcers. Also, in adequate treatment activities, we found no significant difference. Overall, we found a significant decrease in hospital-acquired pressure ulcer frequency from 18 to 13% (P = 0.003) after 4 months and 11% (P < 0.001) after 11 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The number of pressure ulcer patients in hospital can successfully be reduced. General measures such as the introduction of adequate mattresses and guidelines for prevention and treatment are promising tools in this respect.
De Laat
Erik H
EH
Nursing Science Section, Centre for Quality of Care Research, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. e.delaat@zorg.umcn.nl
Schoonhoven
Lisette
L
Pickkers
Peter
P
Verbeek
André L
AL
Van Achterberg
Theo
T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001513:Beds / Q000592:standards; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D009731:Nursing Audit; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018570:Risk Assessment