title: Does the number of raters influence the pressure ulcer prevalence rate?
abstract: We analyzed data from pressure ulcer prevalence studies conducted in nursing homes between 2004 and 2006 concerning differences in the observed pressure ulcer prevalence rates while looking into the number of nurses conducting skin inspections (one or two). Results of the analysis revealed that the number of raters did not influence the observed pressure ulcer prevalence rate. Adequate preparation and training of ward nurses for data collection seem to be sufficient to achieve reliable data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, Center for Humanities and Health Sciences, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. jan.kottner@charite.de
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kottner
authors.forename: Antje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tannen
authors.forename: Ruud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Halfens
authors.forename: Theo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dassen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D015588:Observer Variation; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence