title: Pressure ulcer prevalence and incidence in acute care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of the study were to identify the incidence and prevalence of pressure ulcers (PrUs) in acute-care patients, including the major contributing factors, and to modify existing policy and practices to align with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement recommendations for PrU prevention.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional, descriptive study, PrU prevalence was measured at quarterly intervals on predetermined days in 2009 using a standard data collection form. Incidence was measured 4 days later according to the facility's average length of stay. Patient demographics included age, sex, primary diagnoses, and contributing factors toward PrU development.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study comprised adult medical, surgical, and intensive care patients in a northern California hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PrU prevalence ranged from 12% to 19.7%; incidence ranged from 0% to 5.4%. The most common PrU sites were heel (26%), coccyx (20%), and ear (19%). The major contributing factors were Braden score of less than 18 (84%), serum albumin level of less than 3 (74%), fecal and/or urine incontinence (73%), fragile skin (67%), and bed bound (63%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study supports the importance of collecting PrU prevalence and incidence data as an effective measure of nursing care and patient outcomes and to identify facility trends.
authors.affiliation: Lodi Memorial Hospital, Lodi, California, USA.
authors.forename: Mary Lou
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Ericka
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: O'Neal
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing