title: [Analysis of risk assessment scales for pressure ulcer].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To perform a literature review of the scales and instruments used to assess the risk of developing a pressure ulcer (RPU) in the adult and elderly population and to analyze whether these scales meet the criteria of validity and reliability. To determine whether a specific scale has been developed for use in the domiciliary care setting and adapted to the Spanish environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a descriptive study with a search of the CUIDEN, IME, CINAHL and MEDLINE databases between January 1990 and December 2005. A specifically-designed form was used to register the variables. Data extraction was performed by a single person. The key words used were pressure ulcer, decubitus ulcer, pressure sore, risk evaluation scales, validity, sensitivity, specificity and reliability and their equivalents in Spanish.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete descriptions of 22 instruments and studies of the validity and/or reliability of 15 instruments were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At present, and based on the results of this review, the RPU scale that has shown the greatest validity and reliability is the Braden-Bergstrom scale.
authors.affiliation: Equipo de Atención Primaria Profesor Jesús Marín, Molina de Segura, Murcia, España. pattimor@ono.com
authors.forename: Josefa Patricia
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Moreno-Pina
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Richart-Martínez
authors.forename: Josef Adolf
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Guirao-Goris
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Duarte-Climents
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires