title: Pressure-reducing interventions among persons with pressure ulcers: results from the first three national pressure ulcer prevalence surveys in Sweden.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The overall aim of this study was to describe preventive interventions among persons with pressure ulcer (PU) in three nationwide PU prevalence surveys in Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional research design was used; more than 70 000 persons from different hospitals and nursing homes participated in the three prevalence surveys conducted in March 2011, October 2011 and March 2012. The methodology used was that recommended by the European Pressure Ulcers Advisory Panel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of PU categories I-IV in hospitals was 16.6%, 14.4% and 16.1%, respectively. Corresponding figures for nursing homes were 14.5%, 14.2% and 11.8%, respectively. Heel protection/floating heels and sliding sheets were more frequently planned for persons with PU category I.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the three prevalence studies that have showed high prevalence of PU the use of preventing interventions is still not on an acceptable level. Heel protection/floating heels and sliding sheets were more frequently planned for persons with PUs, and individual-planned repositioning also increased. However, when persons already have a PU they should all have pressure-reducing preventive interventions to prevent the development of more PUs. Preventing PUs presents a challenge even when facilities have prevention programmes. A PU prevention programme requires an enthusiastic leader who will maintain the team's focus and direction for all staff involved in patient care.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Science and Technology, Department of Health Sciences, Karlstad University and Research, County Council of Värmland, Karlstad, Sweden.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bååth
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Idvall
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gunningberg
authors.forename: Ami
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hommel
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015995:Prevalence; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: hospital; nursing home; pressure ulcer; prevalence; prevention