title: [Reducing patient pressure sore incidence in the surgical intensive care unit].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pressure ulcers were an increasingly significant problem among patients in the authors' ward. The eight patients diagnosed with pressure ulcers (0.42% of all inpatients) during the first half of 2009 represented a 140% increase over the first half of 2008 (0.28% of all inpatients).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This project was designed to reduce pressure ulcer incidence in the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) to 0.05%.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intervention measures included: 1) holding professional training on preventing pressure ulcers; 2) specifying appropriate patient turnover tools; 3) creating and distributing to nurses a proper turnover technique and positioning manual; 4) creating and distributing to nurses a comprehensive patient skin inspection checklist; and 5) organizing a permanent pressure ulcer care quality and audit committee.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pressure ulcer incidence fell from 0.42% to 0.04% following implementation of the methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results demonstrate the effectiveness of using the proposed methods to reduce pressure ulcer incidence and enhance nursing care quality.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, ROC.
authors.forename: Hui-Ting
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Ling-Hui
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.forename: Chao-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Shu-Yen
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wan-I
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D003422:Critical Care; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*