Prospective study: reducing pressure ulcers in intensive care units at a Turkish medical center.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of an educational intervention on the incidence of stage II pressure ulcers (PUs) in adult patients in intensive care units (ICUs) in a Turkish medical center.


METHODS
This was a prospective study of patients admitted to ICUs. Data were collected over a 3-month period. Subjects were assessed using the Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk to determine the risk for developing a PU; assessment was completed within the first 24 hours of admission and each 48 hours thereafter for a maximum of 12 weeks. Educational intervention was employed: Intervention included education of ICU nurses about PU prevention and risk assessment; and following the educational intervention and implementation of the PU prevention protocol in all ICUs, data were collected for study period II.


METHODS
The sample comprised 186 patients admitted to critical care units of a Turkish medical center. Ninety-three subjects participated in a preintervention comparison group, and 93 subjects participated in an intervention group.


METHODS
Data were collected using a demographic and clinical data form, a nursing intervention checklist, and the Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk.


RESULTS
Stage II PUs were observed in a total of 50 patients for the overall sample. The most common site was the sacrococcygeal area, which accounted for 46% of ulcers. A statistically significant difference was observed when the rate of stage II PUs in the comparison group, 37% (34 of 93 patients), was compared to the rate in the intervention group, 17% (16 of 93 patients) (chi2 = 8.86, df = 1, P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
Education regarding preventive care can be effective in reducing the incidence of PUs in the ICU setting. Therefore, education about risk assessment and PU prevention should be a priority for nurses in critical care settings.
Uzun
Ozge
O
Nursing Department, T.C. Inönü University Malatya School of Health, Malatya, Turkey. ozgeuzun@inonu.edu.tr
Aylaz
Rukuye
R
Karadağ
Ezgi
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult