Pressure ulcer prevention: review of literature

Abstract

Much has been written about the causes, prevention, and nursing management of pressure ulcers. A review of current literature on the subject reveals that, in spite of the enormity of information available, the problem continues to consume a large percentage of nursing time and energy. Studies of aggressive prevention and ongoing continuing education programs have demonstrated significant reduction of incidence and time of treatment, as well as dramatic cost savings. The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) has recommended that all patients at risk for pressure ulcer development be placed on some form of pressure-reducing support surface. There is a wide variety of these products available, but a surprisingly limited quantity of published articles specifically compare the efficacy of one product to another.