Necessity of Clinical Guidelines in Treating Ulcers

The Necessity of Clinical Guidelines in Preventing and Treating Pressure Ulcers

Pressure ulcers, more commonly known as bed sores, are defined by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) as "lesions caused by unrelieved pressure that results in damage to underlying tissue" (Langemo, Anderson, & Volden, 2003, p. 54). Despite the ease in preventing pressure ulcers, 2.4 million patients develop pressure ulcers each year (Fink, 2003, p. 6). As Langemo et al. (2003) maintain, pressure ulcers result in unnecessary pain and complications as well as significant healthcare costs in the billions of dollars.

According to Langemo et al. (2003), despite the prevalence of pressure ulcers, preventive strategies result in a 34% to 50% decrease in healthcare facility acquired ulcers. The prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers falls within the realm of nursing practice. Therefore clinical guidelines are necessary for healthcare facilities to develop effective methods of treating and preventing pressure ulcers. Because of the unnecessary physical, psychological, and financial consequences that result due to pressure ulcers, this writer has chosen a focus on clinical guidelines for their prevention and treatment culled from evidence based practice and research.

According to Lewis, Pearson, and Ward (2003), a major focus of clinicians, nurses, and healthcare workers should be "the improvement of prevention strategies to min

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o had pressure ulcers on a given day to all patients assessed for pressure ulcers to determine prevalence. The American Nursing Association (ANA) maintains that the national average for ICU pressure ulcer development is 14.5% and 20.2% for Med-surg, (Langemo, et al., 2003). The researchers found in their study that the average for healthcare facilities involved were 13.1% for ICU and 4.1% for Med-surg (Langemo, et al., 2003). This research has significance for clinical practice because the lower averages suggest more effective guidelines for preventing and treating pressure ulcers. For example, these facilities promote a more comprehensive model of prevention and treatment for pressure ulcers than those with higher averages, including daily skin inspections, repositioning, and a high level of caregiver education and training. Buss, Halfens, Abu-Saad and Kok (2004) conducted a qualitative study with semi-structured, tape-recorded interviews to highlight the views and beliefs of healthcare workers about prevention of pressure ulcers. The researchers found that many of today's practices with regard to pressure ulcer prevention are based on "old traditions in nursing" (Buss, et al., 2004, p. 668). The authors' concluded that a s

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