Consistent Practices in Pressure Injury Prevention at Long-term Care Facilities.

Abstract

To examine the use of consistent practice in pressure injury (PI) prevention based on international guidelines at long-term care facilities in Finland. A correlational cross-sectional design was used. The authors collected data from 84 contact persons within 62 participating long-term care facilities in Finland using the Pressure Ulcer Prevention Practice instrument. According to the respondents, the PI prevention strategies practiced most often were skin assessment and skin care; nutrition was the prevention used least often. Consistent practices relating to repositioning were most frequently agreed upon, whereas those relating to risk assessment were least frequently agreed upon. Some of the demographic factors of respondents, including knowledge level and reading of PI prevention guidelines and articles, were associated with the frequency of prevention practices. Although respondents reported a moderate level of PI prevention based on international guidelines, there were often no consistent practices in the units. Further education about PI prevention might improve the consistent practice of evidence-based PI prevention.