Establishment and application of pressure ulcer risk assessment module based on the nursing information system

Abstract

Objective To develop an electronic information system, and make the pressure ulcer risk management more standardized. Methods The information module of pressure ulcer assessment was based on the Norton assessment. This technology relied on the hospital′s nursing information platform, mobile nursing workstation, PDA and other hardware facilities. With this innovation, many intelligent features could be achieved, which included automatically data grabbing and results calculating. In addition, it could help in risk warning, bitmap management of skin problems and the selection and record of nursing measures. Meanwhile, a before-after controlled trial was compared in the advantage of time and satisfaction between the pressure ulcer risk assessment module and traditional assessment. Results The time of pressure ulcer risk assessment and nursing measure was significantly different between the pressure ulcer risk assessment module (4.4±0.3), (12.3±0.8)min and traditional assessment (9.2±0.8), (23.7±1.1)min (P<0.05). The time of pressure ulcer risk assessment module on pressure ulcer nursing management and nursing measures were (12.3±0.8) min, which was less than that of traditional paper pressure ulcer management (23.7±1.1) min (t=36.941, P<0.05). Pressure ulcer risk assessment module improved the satisfaction of nursing staff towards pressure ulcer assessment and it increased by 45% (χ2=8.025, P<0.05). Conclusions The establishment of this information module makes the risk management of pressure ulcer more effective, and the application of nursing information more extensive. Key words: Nursing information system; Pressure ulcer; Risk assessment