title: Retrospective study of pressure ulcer prevalence in Dutch general hospitals since 2001.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether factors such as patient characteristics, pressure ulcer (PU) prevention strategies and the structural quality indicators used by institutions and wards can explain an apparent decline in PU prevalence from 2001 to 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Dutch National Prevalence Survey of Care Problems (known as LPZ) database from 2001 to 2008 was used to explore differences in patient characteristics, PU prevention strategies and structural quality indicators used by institutions and wards between two periods, 2001-2004 (PU as an internal health-care quality indicator) and 2005-2008 (PU as an external health-care quality indicator).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with 2001-2004, fewer participants with CVA /hemiparesis (OR 0.485), infectious diseases (OR 0.861), surgery lasting >2 hours (OR 0.637), at-risk Braden scale scores (OR 0.844), and more participants with diabetes mellitus (OR 1.693) were found in the 2005-2008 group. More special beds/mattresses (OR 2.216) and special cushions in wheelchairs (OR 2.277) were used in the 2005- 2008 period, as well as slightly more repositioning, dehydration/malnutrition prevention and PU prevention and treatment information. More institutions had information leaflets (OR 5.894), PU prevention guidelines (OR 4.625), a PU committee (OR 2.503), and a PU-wound care nurse at ward level (OR 2.434) in the 2005-2008 period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The decline in PU prevalence at Dutch general hospitals after 2004 may be partly explained by differences in patient characteristics, improved structural quality indicators and a slight improvement in PU prevention. Further research is needed to find evidence of which individual factors can explain the decline in PU prevalence after 2004 and whether any changes in health care policy have impacted on these prevalence rates.
authors.affiliation: Caphri Department of Health Care and Nursing Science, Maastricht University, The Netherlands. yufitriana.amir@unri.ac.id
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Amir
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meijers
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Halfens
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001513:Beds; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D056888:Patient Positioning; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D011482:Protective Devices; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors