The development and evaluation of a guiding system for quality improvement of pressure ulcer care

Abstract

Title:The development and evaluation of a guiding system for quality improvement of pressure ulcer care Background: Pressure ulcers are a painful and frequently avoidable care problem with high health care costs. The National Prevalence Measurement of Care Problems is an annual measurement on prevalence of several care problems, like pressure ulcers. Health care professionals struggle translating outcomes of this measurement into actions. In this study a decision tree for pressure ulcer care with action tables will be developed to assist these professionals, since a previous developed decision tree for malnutrition was received positively. Aim and research question(s) The purpose of this study is to develop a guiding system for pressure ulcer care that is suitable for managers and quality employees in hospitals, home care and long-term care settings to improve the quality of pressure ulcer care. Two research questions were formulated in succession: 1)Which elements need to be included in a guiding system, existing of a decision tree and action tables, for quality improvement of pressure ulcer care? 2)Is the developed system useful for managers and quality employees in hospitals, home care and long-term care settings to improve the quality of pressure ulcer care in their institutions? Method A mixed method was used in this study. The development phase consisted of conducting the concept decision tree and five expert interviews. In the evaluation phase a questionnaire was sent to 30 coordinators of participants of the National Prevalence Measurement of Care Problems to determine their opinion, ten of them fulfilled it. Questions about usability, clarity and completeness were in the questionnaire. Results: Coordinators evaluated this system as useful, complete and clear. Conclusion: The developed guiding system was rated as useful by the coordinators of joining institutions of the National Prevalence Measurement of Care Problems. Recommendations: Further research is required over a longer period. A longitudinal research is necessary to measure the effects on pressure ulcer care.