Abstract

Abstract
Prevalence and incidence surveys have been used to demonstrate the number and stages of pressure ulcers for over 20 years. Pressure ulcer point prevalence and incidence study results generated over a 4 year period at the Launceston General Hospital (LGH) will be presented and discussed. The reliability of both prevalence and incidence as a measure will be discussed in relation to the rates recorded as well as general data interpretation. Benefits of prevalence and incidence surveys as presented by Dealey will form the criteria used to assess the four consecutive annual point prevalence surveys undertaken at the LGH since 1996.

Abstract
Pressure ulcers pose a significant problem for every health care institution. They are a serious threat to the patient and significantly drain hospital resources. Many health care institutions throughout the world have recognised and investigated the extent of this problem and subsequently have devised strategies to reduce the problem. In Australia, it is widely acknowledged that health care professionals have an obligation to regularly review the care and services they provide and, where necessary, to change clinical practice to ensure they achieve best outcomes for patients. Pressure ulcer surveillance is seen by some Australian hospitals as an important exercise in quality review. Surveys in these hospitals have been conducted in order to determine the prevalence and severity of pressure ulcers and audit existing pressure relieving devices. The Nursing Practice and Research Council at St John of God Health Care, Subiaco (SJOGHCS), Perth, Western Australia, proposed the first pressure ulcer prevalence surrey be conducted at this hospital in March 1998. This was to determine the prevalence and severity of pressure ulcers in the hospital’s inpatient population. This information would assist us to evaluate the impact of recently implemented strategies for pressure ulcer management; in particular the hospitals pressure ulcer risk assessment scale. Before this survey, no pressure ulcer prevalence surveys had ever been conducted at this hospital or at any other hospital within the St John of God Health Care Australian network of hospitals. The author is unaware of any published results of pressure ulcer prevalence surveys that may have been conducted in other private hospitals in Western Australia. On 8 March 2020, 234 patients had their skin examined for evidence of pressure ulcers to identify their prevalence. This was found to be 10.6 per cent. In addition to the prevalence, accumulative incidence and risk were reported, together with accurate information on the number and types of pressure relieving devices being used on the wards, At the same time, a ‘pink dot protocol’ was introduced to identify and alert the nurses to those patients at high risk of developing pressure ulcers. Following the survey, recommendations regarding pressure reducing/relieving equipment, in-service education and a mattress replacement program were made. It was also recommended that the pressure ulcer prevalence survey be repeated again in 12-18 months’ time. This paper will discuss and report on the results and recommendations of the first pressure ulcer prevalence survey conducted at SJOGHCS, Perth, Western Australia.

Abstract