title: Evaluation of three commonly used pressure ulcer risk assessment scales.
abstract: Pressure ulcers are a huge concern for health professionals, cause suffering to patients and are associated with increased morbidity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This literature review provides an overview of the literature on the three most commonly used pressure ulcer risk assessment scales-the Waterlow scale, the Braden scale and the Norton scale.
  
  
  METHODS
  A search was undertaken through the databases CINAHL, MEDLINE, British Nursing Index, ProQuest and Cochrane Library. Key terms included pressure ulcers, pressure sores, risk assessment, Braden scale, Norton scale and Waterlow scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While risk assessment scales are beneficial they should not be used without the aid of nurses' clinical judgment. Over-predicting pressure ulcers is a common problem when using risk assessment scales. However, ethical considerations preclude investigation into the predictive capacity of a scale. Ongoing education in the prevention and management of pressure ulcers is essential for nurses. Risk assessment scales should be adapted to suit the needs of the clinical setting in which they are used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Waterlow scale is the most widely used risk assessment scale in the UK and Ireland, even though there is no evidence to suggest it is more effective than the other most commonly used scales.
authors.affiliation: Aras Mayola, School of Nursing and Midwifery, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Tuathail
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Taqi
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology