Each year, approximately 3 million people in the United States develop a pressure ulcer. Although a preventable complication, pressure ulcers are among the top 5 adverse outcomes in the acute care setting with the prevalence as high as 42% in the intensive care unit (ICU). The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the inclusion of the Braden Scale as part of a multicomponent pressure ulcer intervention protocol, or care bundle, to identify geriatric patients hospitalized in the ICU who were at risk for pressure ulcers. The Cochrane protocol guided this review; findings were reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis statement. Through a structured search strategy in 6 electronic databases, 409 studies were reviewed, of which 11 studies were analyzed and the data included in a literature review matrix for synthesis. Four key findings emerged from the data analysis: effective pressure ulcer prevention programs use a risk assessment, daily reassessment of risk, daily skin inspections, moisture removal strategies, nutritional support and hydration, and offloading pressure; the Braden Scale is effective in detecting pressure ulcer risk in the ICU; an evidence-based bundle is effective in preventing pressure ulcer development; and decreased risk for pressure ulcer development increases patient safety, improves quality of care, and reduces the overall cost of care. The findings from this project can result in positive change by providing the evidence to guide improvements in pressure ulcer protocols to increase the quality of care and decrease the incidence of pressure ulcers in the ICU.

As úlceras de pressão (UP) representam um grave problema para os pacientes hospitalizados, especialmente em termos de sofrimento pessoal e econômico, e um desafio não só para os enfermeiros, mas para toda a equipe interdisciplinar. Os objetivos deste estudo foram identificar e analisar os índices de prevalência e incidência de UP, nas unidades de Clínica Médica, Cirúrgica, UTI e Semi Intensiva do Hospital Universitário da USP, bem como, estabelecer as possíveis associações com as características sócio demográficas e clínicas da clientela. Após aprovação do Comitê de Ética e Pesquisa do HU, procedeu-se à coleta de dados em duas etapas: enquanto os dados da prevalência foram levantados num único dia da semana, os relacionados à incidência, durante três meses consecutivos. Para tanto, o exame físico de todos os pacientes internados e de todos os pacientes em risco para o desenvolvimento de UP, era realizado, respectivamente para os estudos da prevalência e incidência. A avaliação de risco para o desenvolvimento de UP foi feita através da Escala de Braden, tendo como nota de corte o escore inferior ou igual a 16. No estudo da prevalência, dos 102 pacientes avaliados, 19 desenvolveram UP, acarretando índice de 18,63%. Dentre os pacientes que apresentavam UP, houve predomínio do sexo feminino (52,63%), da raça branca (89,47%), de pacientes não fumantes (68,42%), com tempo de internação superior a 10 dias, principalmente por doenças do sistema cardiovascular ou respiratório (por doenças de base ou associadas), além de lesões no estágio I (51,85%) e na região sacra (22,22%). A idade média de 71,53 (DP=15,75) anos e o tempo médio de internação (12,31) dos pacientes com UP mostraram-se significativamente superiores àqueles exibidos pelos pacientes sem UP (p<0,001 e p=0,044, respectivamente). No estudo da incidência, dos 211 pacientes de risco acompanhados, 84 desenvolveram um total de 134 UP, acarretando índice de 39,81%. Os pacientes com UP caracterizaram-se por predomínio do sexo masculino (52,28%), da raça branca (80,95%) e de não fumantes (73,81), e as úlceras predominaram no estágio II (52,98%) e também em região sacra (33,58%), não sendo observadas UP nos estágios III ou IV. A idade média desses pacientes foi de 70,31 anos (DP=16,44), e houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre as idades dos pacientes com e sem UP, mostrando-se novamente superiores para os pacientes com UP. Além disso, a idade apresentou ainda, correlações estatisticamente significativas, positiva com a incidência e negativa com a umidade, ambas de fraca intensidade, sugerindo que as maiores incidências ocorrem entre os pacientes idosos e que estes tendem a apresentar maiores escores na sub escala umidade da escala de Braden. Embora a maioria dos pacientes com UP (50 ou 59,52%) tenha apresentado escore menor ou igual a 16, ou seja, risco para desenvolvimento de UP, os índices de prevalência e incidência encontrados neste estudo, quando comparados aos estudos internacionais, mostram-se elevados. Os resultados indicam não somente a urgente necessidade da implantação de um programa de prevenção e tratamento de UP na instituição, como contribuem, metodologicamente, para que outros serviços possam estabelecer tal tipo de investigação, para a ampliação do conhecimento acerca desse problema no país. / Pressure Ulcer (PU) represents a great problem for hospitalized patients, especially concerning economic and personal suffering, and this is a hallenge not only for registered nurses (RN) but also for the interdisciplinary staff. The goals for this study are to identify and to analyze the PU prevalence and incidence in the clinical, surgical, intensive care unit and semi-intensive units at the University Hospital of Sao Paulo University, as well as establish possible association with social demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients. After approval of the Ethical and Research Committee of the University Hospital, the collection of data took place in two stages. While the prevalent information was surveyed in only one day, the incidence took three months to accomplish. A physical examination was performed on all the interned patients and all the others that had a risk of developing the PU to study the predominance of the occurrence. An evaluation of the chance of developing PU was assessed using the Braden Scale with a cutoff score of less than or equal to 16. In this study of prevalence,from the 102 patients, 19 developed PU, an index of 18.63%. Among those patients that developed PU, 52.63% were female, 89.47% white race, 68,42% non-smoker patients, with more than 10 days of internment period mainly with cardiac or respiratory diseases (or associated illnesses), beside the lesions at stage I (51.85%) and on the sacral region (22.22%). The average age was 71,53 years old (DP=15.75) and the average time of internment was 12,31 days for the patients with PU, and it was significantly greater than those patients without the PU (p<0,001 and p=0,044 respectively). In the incidence study of 211 patients with risks to develop PU, 84 developed it, with a total of 134 PU, an index of 39.81%, Those with PU were predominant male (52.38%), of white race(80.95%), and non-smokers (52.98%). The ulcers were predominant at stage II, and also on the sacral region (33.58%), not having been found PU at stages III and IV. The average age of these patients was 70.31 years old (DP=16.44). The results showed significant statistical difference between the ages of patients with and without PU, again superior for those patients with PU. Besides, the age presented positive correlation statistically significant and negative with moisture, both with low intensity, suggesting that there are more incidences occurring with elderly patients who tend to present bigger score in the Moisture Subscale of the Braden Scale. Although, the majority of the patients with PU (50 or 59.52%) presented a score of 16 or less, it means, risk to develop PU, the prevalence and incidence indexes found in these studies were high when compared with the international studies. The results indicate, not only, an urgent need of implantation of a preventive program and treatment of PU in the institution, but also contribute, methodologically, that other services be established, like type of investigation, to amplify the knowledge of this problem in the country.

As úlceras de pressão (UP) representam um grave problema para os pacientes hospitalizados, especialmente em termos de sofrimento pessoal e econômico, e um desafio não só para os enfermeiros, mas para toda a equipe interdisciplinar. Os objetivos deste estudo foram identificar e analisar os índices de prevalência e incidência de UP, nas unidades de Clínica Médica, Cirúrgica, UTI e Semi Intensiva do Hospital Universitário da USP, bem como, estabelecer as possíveis associações com as características sócio demográficas e clínicas da clientela. Após aprovação do Comitê de Ética e Pesquisa do HU, procedeu-se à coleta de dados em duas etapas: enquanto os dados da prevalência foram levantados num único dia da semana, os relacionados à incidência, durante três meses consecutivos. Para tanto, o exame físico de todos os pacientes internados e de todos os pacientes em risco para o desenvolvimento de UP, era realizado, respectivamente para os estudos da prevalência e incidência. A avaliação de risco para o desenvolvimento de UP foi feita através da Escala de Braden, tendo como nota de corte o escore inferior ou igual a 16. No estudo da prevalência, dos 102 pacientes avaliados, 19 desenvolveram UP, acarretando índice de 18,63%. Dentre os pacientes que apresentavam UP, houve predomínio do sexo feminino (52,63%), da raça branca (89,47%), de pacientes não fumantes (68,42%), com tempo de internação superior a 10 dias, principalmente por doenças do sistema cardiovascular ou respiratório (por doenças de base ou associadas), além de lesões no estágio I (51,85%) e na região sacra (22,22%). A idade média de 71,53 (DP=15,75) anos e o tempo médio de internação (12,31) dos pacientes com UP mostraram-se significativamente superiores àqueles exibidos pelos pacientes sem UP (p<0,001 e p=0,044, respectivamente). No estudo da incidência, dos 211 pacientes de risco acompanhados, 84 desenvolveram um total de 134 UP, acarretando índice de 39,81%. Os pacientes com UP caracterizaram-se por predomínio do sexo masculino (52,28%), da raça branca (80,95%) e de não fumantes (73,81), e as úlceras predominaram no estágio II (52,98%) e também em região sacra (33,58%), não sendo observadas UP nos estágios III ou IV. A idade média desses pacientes foi de 70,31 anos (DP=16,44), e houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre as idades dos pacientes com e sem UP, mostrando-se novamente superiores para os pacientes com UP. Além disso, a idade apresentou ainda, correlações estatisticamente significativas, positiva com a incidência e negativa com a umidade, ambas de fraca intensidade, sugerindo que as maiores incidências ocorrem entre os pacientes idosos e que estes tendem a apresentar maiores escores na sub escala umidade da escala de Braden. Embora a maioria dos pacientes com UP (50 ou 59,52%) tenha apresentado escore menor ou igual a 16, ou seja, risco para desenvolvimento de UP, os índices de prevalência e incidência encontrados neste estudo, quando comparados aos estudos internacionais, mostram-se elevados. Os resultados indicam não somente a urgente necessidade da implantação de um programa de prevenção e tratamento de UP na instituição, como contribuem, metodologicamente, para que outros serviços possam estabelecer tal tipo de investigação, para a ampliação do conhecimento acerca desse problema no país. / Pressure Ulcer (PU) represents a great problem for hospitalized patients, especially concerning economic and personal suffering, and this is a hallenge not only for registered nurses (RN) but also for the interdisciplinary staff. The goals for this study are to identify and to analyze the PU prevalence and incidence in the clinical, surgical, intensive care unit and semi-intensive units at the University Hospital of Sao Paulo University, as well as establish possible association with social demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients. After approval of the Ethical and Research Committee of the University Hospital, the collection of data took place in two stages. While the prevalent information was surveyed in only one day, the incidence took three months to accomplish. A physical examination was performed on all the interned patients and all the others that had a risk of developing the PU to study the predominance of the occurrence. An evaluation of the chance of developing PU was assessed using the Braden Scale with a cutoff score of less than or equal to 16. In this study of prevalence,from the 102 patients, 19 developed PU, an index of 18.63%. Among those patients that developed PU, 52.63% were female, 89.47% white race, 68,42% non-smoker patients, with more than 10 days of internment period mainly with cardiac or respiratory diseases (or associated illnesses), beside the lesions at stage I (51.85%) and on the sacral region (22.22%). The average age was 71,53 years old (DP=15.75) and the average time of internment was 12,31 days for the patients with PU, and it was significantly greater than those patients without the PU (p<0,001 and p=0,044 respectively). In the incidence study of 211 patients with risks to develop PU, 84 developed it, with a total of 134 PU, an index of 39.81%, Those with PU were predominant male (52.38%), of white race(80.95%), and non-smokers (52.98%). The ulcers were predominant at stage II, and also on the sacral region (33.58%), not having been found PU at stages III and IV. The average age of these patients was 70.31 years old (DP=16.44). The results showed significant statistical difference between the ages of patients with and without PU, again superior for those patients with PU. Besides, the age presented positive correlation statistically significant and negative with moisture, both with low intensity, suggesting that there are more incidences occurring with elderly patients who tend to present bigger score in the Moisture Subscale of the Braden Scale. Although, the majority of the patients with PU (50 or 59.52%) presented a score of 16 or less, it means, risk to develop PU, the prevalence and incidence indexes found in these studies were high when compared with the international studies. The results indicate, not only, an urgent need of implantation of a preventive program and treatment of PU in the institution, but also contribute, methodologically, that other services be established, like type of investigation, to amplify the knowledge of this problem in the country.

The purpose of this study was to describe the relationships among common signs/symptoms (depression, fatigue, declines in cognitive function) in women with multiple sclerosis (MS) using a modified version of Braden's Self Help Theoretical Model and evaluate whether depression, fatigue, declines in cognitive function and uncertainty, enabling skills (self-control in this study) and self-management (coping in this study) influence quality of life outcomes in women with MS. MS is one of the most common causes of disability among young adults and is the most prevalent neurological disease among young and middle-aged adults in certain parts of the world. Although research had previously been undertaken with regards to the common symptoms of MS, uncertainty, enabling skills, self-management and quality of life, there had been no studies undertaken that involved all of them. This descriptive study was the first to explore relationships among common symptoms of MS, uncertainty, enabling skills, self-management and quality of life in an MS population using Braden's Learned Response Chronic Illness Self Help Model. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 106 participants. Measurement tools utilized in the study included: 1) Demographic and Illness Characteristics, 2) The Modified Fatigue Impact Scale, 3) Perceived Deficits Questionnaire, 4) Patient Health Questionnaire-9, 5) Mishel's Uncertainty in Illness Scale- Adult, 6) Rosenbaum's Self-Control Scale- Modified, 7) COPE Inventory-Brief, and 8) SF-36 Health Status Questionnaire. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, correlations and linear regression to answer the specific aims. The study findings indicate that relationships exist among depression, fatigue, declines in cognitive function, uncertainty, enabling skills and self-management in women with MS. The study findings also indicate that depression, fatigue, declines in cognitive function, uncertainty, enabling skills and self-management influence quality of life outcomes in women with MS. Finally, while only a first study, the research findings indicate using a modified version of Braden's Learned Response Chronic Illness Self Help Model (LRCISHM) is appropriate in a population of women with MS. Future research involving women with MS who meet the inclusion criteria across the contiguous United States as well as male military veterans with MS is recommended. Research involving this modified version of Braden's LRCISHM as well as research incorporating disability levels is recommended. Research to develop interventions to improve quality of life outcomes and minimize distress is also recommended.

Over 60,000 hospital patients die each year from complications associated with hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs). Pressure-injury rates have increased by 2% within the past decade as life expectancy has also increased due to high cost in Medicare. Evidence shows that the incidence of pressure injuries (PIs) in healthcare facilities is increasing, with high rates of occurrence in intensive care units (ICUs). At the clinical site for which this project was developed, multiple in-services had been provided to staff regarding PIs, but uncertainty persisted about how knowledgeable the nurses were. This project, using the Academic Center for Evidence Star Model of Knowledge Transformation improved the nurses' knowledge and their practice related to PI prevention in the ICU, as well as to translate evidence into nursing practice. A literature review was conducted on PI prevention to inform the project. The project provided an educational program for intensive care nurses on PI prevention and determined, based on participants' pre- and posttest responses, that nurses' knowledge improved as a result of participation. This project, involving 55 nurses, includes information on the Pieper-Zulkowski Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Test (PZ-PUKT) measuring pressure knowledge which resulted in an 85% improvement on injury prevention, 76% in wound description, as well as, 62% in the Braden Scale. Improvements in knowledge and practice resulting from nurses' participation in an evidence-based education session on PI prevention may bring positive social change to the organization at which this project was conducted.

Hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs) represent a significant challenge in the care provided for hospitalized patients. HAPUs impact morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. At the local practice site, the incidence of HAPUs increased in the perioperative setting. The practice-focused question for this project asked if an education program for staff nurses working in a perioperative care setting with high HAPU incidence can advance nurse knowledge regarding prevention, early assessment, symptoms, and treatment of HAPUs. The purpose of this educational project was to develop a pretest and posttest designed education program on HAPU prevention and care for perioperative nurses. The Iowa model was used to guide content development with application of the content to nursing practice, and Watson’s theory of caring was used to align with the organizational core values. Information on the prevention and treatment of HAPUs was obtained from national and international guidelines. A presentation was developed to address the practice guidelines for assessment, prevention, and treatment of HAPUs. A standardized pretest from NetCE was given to 15 nurses and 5 medical assistants prior to the education program and again after the education program. NetCE score results indicated improvement in nursing staff members’ knowledge from 65 on the pretest to 100 on the posttest; medical assistants’ scores increased from 35 to 65. For patients who undergo surgical procedures, the results of this project may improve assessment, prevention, and treatment of HAPUs and thereby promote positive social change because patients have a reduced risk of HAPUs and HAPU-associated complications.

Pressure ulcers are a serious health condition that have negative consequences for patients and organizations. The primary cause of pressure ulcers is intense and/or prolonged pressure or pressure in combination with shear that results in damage to the skin and underlying soft tissue. Early identification of patients at risk for pressure ulcers and 2-hour repositioning to off-load pressure are key components in reducing pressure ulcer development. Despite ongoing efforts to prevent pressure ulcers, the incidence and prevalence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs) at the practicum site exceeded the benchmark for Magnet hospitals and the health system's goal of 1%. Patient mobility sensor technology will be implemented on all patients who are at risk for pressure ulcers and who require caregiver-assisted turns to reduce the incidence and prevalence of HAPUs and increase turn-schedule compliance. At risk patients are those with a Braden Scale score of 18 or less; however, nurses often score patients higher than actual. An educational activity, Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk: It's only as effective as the scores suggest, will be presented to nurses to provide them with the knowledge and skills necessary to accurately perform a Braden assessment and correctly identify patients at risk for pressure ulcers. A pretest/posttest design will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the program in improving the nurses' accuracy when performing the Braden assessment. This project will help with the early identification of patients who will benefit from the patient mobility sensor technology and ultimately in decreasing HAPUs.