Prevention of pressure ulcer
Report
|Updated
A rapid summary of evidence regarding prevention of pressure ulcer.
Key message
Background
Prevention of pressure ulcer is suggested as a priority area in a planned Norwegian patient safety campaign. To support decisions regarding priority areas and interventions, we have performed a rapid summary of evidence regarding prevention of pressure ulcer.
Commission
The summary was performed on commission of The Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services, The secretary of the patient safety campaign 2011.
Main conclusions (graded body of evidence)
- The incidence of pressure ulcer may be reduced by the use of pressure relief mattresses (high quality), pillows or sheepskin furs (moderate quality).
- There is insufficient evidence to judge if using risk scoring tools may influence the development of pressure ulcer. Patient risk assessment for development of pressure ulcer is recommended in both national and international guidelines.
- There is insufficient evidence to judge if observation of skin changes may influence the development of pressure ulcer (low quality).
- The use of pH balanced soap may prevent the incidence of pressure ulcer
- The evidence on the effects of nutritional and fluid intake on the development of pressure ulcer is uncertain (very low quality).
Our conclusions were based on results in two Cochrane reviews and one Canadian HTA review.