(PI-022) The impact of pressure ulcer prevention education on health care assistants’ knowledge and skills and pressure ulcer incidence in long-term care settings
Co-Author(s):
Zena Moore, PhD – Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences; Declan Patton, PhD – Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
Introduction: Pressure ulcers (PUs) are a significant clinical issue, and their prevention is a priority. Older adult patients are susceptible to PUs due to the presence of co- morbidities and reduced mobility. Health care assistants (HCAs) represent most of the workforce in long-term care settings and play a significant role in PU prevention and the provision of education is an integral component of PU prevention. The overall aim of this systematic review (SR) was to investigate the impact of education for health care assistants on their knowledge and skills in PU prevention and on the incidence of PUs.
Methods: Using systematic review methodology and the PRISMA guidelines, in November 2021 key databases were searched, CINAHL, EMBASE, SCOPUS, MEDLINE and Cochrane Wounds Group Specialist Register and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, with no limitations on date of publication. The search yielded an initial 449 records, of which 14 met the inclusion criteria. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated using the Evidence-based Librarianship checklist (Glynn, 2006). Data was analysed using narrative and meta-analysis.
Results: Eleven studies (79%) reported outcome measures of HCA knowledge scores, with four studies reporting a statistically significant improvement in knowledge scores post education intervention. Nine studies (64%) found a statistically significant reduction in prevalence (OR 1.69, p= 0.01) and incidence rates (OR 2.20, 95%, p<0.0001) post-education intervention.
Discussion: This SR affirms the benefits of education of health care assistants on knowledge and skills of PU prevention and on PU incidence. However, there was broad methodological heterogeneity and low-quality evidence within the included studies.
Trademarked Items:
References: Glynn, L. (2006) A critical appraisal tool for library and information research. Library Hi Tech 24, 387- 399.
European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel and Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance. Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries: Clinical Practice Guideline. The International Guideline. Emily Haesler (Ed.). EPUAP/NPIAP/PPPIA: 2019 https://www.epuap.org/guidelines/ {accessed March 2020}.
Moore, Z., Cowman, S. & Conroy, R.M (2011) A randomised controlled clinical trial of repositioning using the 30 degrees tilt for the prevention of pressure ulcers. Journal of clinical nursing, 20, 2633- 2644
Ousey, K. (2015) Pressure ulcers: are they a safeguarding issue in care and nursing homes. Wounds UK, 11(3), 14 -17.