The prevalence of pressure ulcers within a medium to long stay health care centre
Antonio Ramos, Ana S. F. Ribeiro, Almudena Martín, Margarita Vázquez, Beatriz Blanco, José M. Corrales, Nuria Fernández, Mónica Dones

SUMMARY

    Introduction and objectives: pressure ulcers (PU) represent an overload and a reduced quality of life for the patient and their caregivers. The presence of pressure ulcers is also considered a negative indicator to quality of care. The main objective of the current study is: to know the prevalence of pressure ulcers in the Fundación Instituto San Jose (FISJ) and the secondary objectives: to determine the distribution of PU among the various programs of the hospital; to identify the degree of severity to external and iatrogenic PU and finallyto know the average time of healing to PU in the FISJ. Material and methods: a retrospective, longitudinal, descriptive study, the population to study was patients admitted in the FISJ during January 1 to December 31, 2011. Results: the results show that our hospital presented in 2011, an average prevalence of patients with PU of 15.96%. The prevalence of external PU was 20.53% and 5.19% to iatrogenic PU. In the hospital were treated 935 PU in different areas of attention to which 32% stage 1, 37% stage II, 17% stage III and 14% stage IV. Conclusions: although we have obtained improvements in care prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers, we will continue working in order to improve prevention measures focused on reducing or eliminating risk factors for pressure ulcers in FISJ.

KEY WORDS

    Venous ulcers, chromoteraphy.

Vol. 24 nº1-2013