title: The effectiveness of a pressure ulcer intervention program on the prevalence of hospital acquired pressure ulcers: controlled before and after study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pressure Ulcers (PUs) are associated with high mortality, morbidity, and health care costs. In addition to being costly, PrUs cause pain, suffering, infection, a lower quality of life, extended hospital stay and even death. Although several nursing interventions have been advocated in the literature, there is a paucity of research on what constitutes the most effective nursing intervention.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy of multidisciplinary intervention and to assess which component of the intervention was most predictive of decreasing the prevalence of Hospital acquired pressure ulcers (HAPU) in a tertiary setting in Lebanon.
  
  
  METHODS
  An evaluation prospective research design was utilized with data before and after the intervention. The sample consisted of 468 patients admitted to the hospital from January 2012 to April 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of HAPU was significantly reduced from 6.63% in 2012 to 2.47. Sensitivity of the Braden scale in predicting a HAPU was 92.30% and specificity was 60.04%. A logistic multiple regression equation found that two factors significantly predicted the development of a HAPU; skin care and Braden scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The multidisciplinary approach was effective in decreasing the prevalence of HAPUs. Skin care management which was a significant predictor of PUs should alert nurses to the cost effectiveness of this intervention. Lower Braden scores also were predictive of HAPUs.
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Zeinab
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mallah
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nassar
authors.affiliation: Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, California. Electronic address: linakbadr@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kurdahi Badr
mesh_terms: D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Lebanon; Predictors; Pressure ulcers; Prevention