The prevention of hospital-acquired pressure injuries among adult immobilized patients in a mental health department: a best practice implementation project

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this implementation project was to promote evidence-based practices regarding hospital-acquired pressure injuries prevention practices among immobilized adult patients in a mental health department and to measure the level of compliance with the best practice in this field. Introduction: Pressure injuries can have significant restrictions on the patient's quality of life; affect the patient physically, psychologically, and socially; lead to increased costs and length of hospital stay; and are closely linked to increased mortality. Thus, the best evidence practice implementation project was conducted in the mental health ward of a large teaching hospital in Bucharest. Method: The current evidence implementation project used the JBI Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System and Getting Research into Practice. The best practices project was carried out in a mental health department with 70 beds at Bucharest's largest mental health hospital. This analysis of nursing practice included all immobile patients who were hospitalized in the ward. Results: Through the project to implement best practices for the prevention of pressure injuries, the activity of nurses was improved. If initially, the prevention of pressure injuries was a deficient activity in the hospital (compliance between 0 and 82%), after the implementation of the project, compliance with the recommendations of evidence-based practices was radically improved, obtaining a maximum percentage of 100% for all these activities: patient assessment, use of assessment tools, use of necessary devices, provision of high protein diet and patient education. Conclusion: The current project contributed to the standardization and improvement of nurses’ practice of pressure injuries prevention in patients with mental illness and immobility hospitalized in a psychiatric ward. The development of future audits will help identify the sustainability of the implemented prevention measures.

Trends and racial disparity in primary pressure ulcer hospitalizations outcomes in the US from 2005 to 2014

“…A pressure ulcer (PU) or pressure injury, as defined by the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, refers to an area of localized skin and underlying tissue damage caused by excessive and prolonged pressure, shear stress, or friction. [1,2] This condition is associated with increased pain, risks of infection, healthcare costs, reduced quality of life for patients, [3] and even mortality. [4][5][6] Annually, pressure ulcers affect approximately 3 million people in the United States, [7] resulting in healthcare expenditures of around $26.8 billion.…”