Introduction
It is important to note that pressure ulcers are a widespread problem that affects patients’ wellbeing, health, and recovery. The key purpose of the given analysis is to determine whether or not the integration of evidence-based checklist tools in the nursing care process can effectively reduce the occurrence rate of pressure ulcers among older adults. The proposed methodological framework is substantiated by the fact that evidence-based approaches are already showing a great deal of improvement in skin care, nutrition, and risk assessment of nursing care (Sayilan, 2019). In other words, there is strong evidence to consider evidence-based checklists as effective educational measures, which can be directly applied to the problem of pressure ulcers among the geriatric population. Therefore, it is critical to focus on novel and evidence-based practices to combat the issues and minimize their effects.
Statement of Problem
The problem of focus for the project is pressure ulcers, which are highly common among patients. It is stated that “pressure (decubitus) ulcers are injuries to the skin and underlying tissue resulting from prolonged pressure on the skin and one of the negative conditions that disrupt the quality of life of the person” (Sayilan, 2019, p. 7). The consequences can be dire if one does not take timely measures to combat pressure ulcers. New adjacent areas of skin, muscles, and bones can gradually be involved in the affected area. An open weeping wound can become a breeding ground for pathogenic microbes that provoke the development of infectious and inflammatory processes in the body, which can lead to the amputation of a limb. Another study indicates that “preventing pressure ulcers is one of the most challenging goals for today’s health care provider. Currently used tools which assess the risk of pressure ulcer development rarely evaluate the accuracy of predictability, especially in older adults” (Park et al., 2016, p. 459). In other words, the problem of pressure ulcers is challenging to prevent and treat, which is why any effective detection and monitoring measure can be handy in a clinical setting.
Significance of the Project
The background of the problem is manifested and reflected in the fact that pressure ulcers’ impact is substantial. For example, it is stated that “In the USA, approximately 1–3 million people develop pressure ulcers each year, and more than 2.5 million patients in the United States acute care services suffer from pressure ulcers, and 60,000 each year die from the complications of such ulcers” (Saghaleini et al., 2018, p. 283). Thus, pressure ulcers are one of the most common severe problems in the structure of nosocomial complications. They significantly negatively impact the psychological and physical condition of the patient and reduce the quality of his or her life. Traditionally, pressure ulcers are considered localized trauma to the skin and soft tissues resulting from compression. However, despite the leading role in the development of the disease, the effect of ischemia due to reduction and immobilization, nevertheless, the formation and the process of wound healing are influenced by various factors. In other words, pressure ulcers have dire effects on millions of Americans’ well-being, health, and recovery.
The context is tightly connected with implementing evidence-based educational measures for the nursing professionals regarding patient treatment and care, including mobile ones. Research suggests that many experts and organizations have a set of evidence-based tools to combat pressure ulcers, but the majority of these approaches only apply to younger individuals, which means that there are no effective instruments for the geriatric population (Lozano-Montoya et al., 2016). In addition, the project aims to integrate evidence-based education, practice, and care alterations, such as the separation of patients with pressure ulcers from unaffected ones, since it is stated that such an intervention can significantly boost the management of care (Simon et al., 2016). Therefore, the project’s significance is manifested in its precise focus on the geriatric group patients, who have fewer to no evidence-based care access regarding the most common and problematic issue of pressure ulcers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, pressure ulcers can be a principal and significant burden in the national and global healthcare field since their implications are costly on many levels. Firstly, its impact is widespread, affecting millions of Americans of all ages with no signs of improvement. The problem is the result of constantly applied pressure on a specific region of skin continuously, which creates a localized erosion, tear, and necrosis of the tissue. Secondly, the current evidence-based methodological frameworks designed to counter pressure ulcer occurrence rates are primarily suited for a younger adult population, meaning these methods might not apply to seniors with similar efficacy levels. Therefore, it is essential to consider and develop evidence-based measures for the older adult population to minimize pressure ulcers’ effect on their health and recovery. Thirdly, implementing educational approaches, such as an evidence-based checklist and care process modifications, such as separate rooms, can be highly effective for the geriatric patient group against pressure ulcers.
References
Lozano-Montoya, I., Vélez-Díaz-Pallarés, M., Abraha, I., Cherubini, A., Soiza, R. L., O’Mahony, D., Montero-Errasquín, B., Correa-Pérez, A., & Cruz-Jentoft, A. J. (2016). Nonpharmacologic interventions to prevent pressure ulcers in older patients: An overview of systematic reviews (the software ENgine for the assessment and optimization of drug and non-drug therapy in older peRsons [SENATOR] definition of optimal evidence-based non-drug therapies in older people [ONTOP] series). Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 17(4), 370-e1.
Park, S-. H., Lee, Y. S., & Kwon, Y. M. (2016). Predictive validity of pressure ulcer risk assessment tools for elderly: A meta-analysis. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 38(4), 459–483.
Saghaleini, S. H., Dehghan, K., Shadvar, K., Sanaie, S., Mahmoodpoor, A., & Ostadi, Z. (2018). Pressure ulcer and nutrition. Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine, 22(4), 283-289.
Sayilan, A. A. (2019). Evidence-based practices for the prevention of pressure ulcers. Journal of Health Services and Education, 3(1), 7-10.
Simon, M., Maben, J., Murrells, T., & Griffiths, P. (2016). Is single-room hospital accommodation associated with differences in healthcare-associated infection, falls, pressure ulcers or medication errors? A natural experiment with non-equivalent controls. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 21(3), 147-155.