The role of patients in pressure injury prevention: a survey of acute care patients

Pressure injuries (PIs) (also known as pressure sores, pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers) are areas of localised damage affecting the skin and underlying tissue which result from pressure, and/or shear [1]. Hospital acquired pressure injuries (HAPI), that is those that originate in hospital, range from 6.4% - 17.4% of admissions [2]-[4]. PIs are painful and difficult to treat often necessitating surgery [5]-[7] and resulting in decreased physical function and quality of life [7],[8]. They are also costly to the healthcare system. An Australian study of public hospitals predicted a median of 398,432 bed days lost, resulting in a median opportunity cost of AU$285 M as a result of pressure injuries [9].

In the light of the growing consensus that most hospital acquired pressure injuries are preventable and represent a significant patient safety issue [10], the pressure injury prevention (PIP) is a National Safety and Quality Health Service Standard in Australia [11] and has been referred to the UK National Institute of Clinical Excellence for development as a quality standard [12]. In the USA, Medicare hospitals no longer receive higher Medicare payments related to pressure injury related care of patients who acquire Stage III-IV PIs during their inpatient stay [13],[14].

In response to these developments, healthcare services are increasingly focusing on the prevention and early detection of PIs [1],[15]. Local and international guidelines recommend that patients at risk of PI, receive preventive measures including pressure-relieving or redistributing support surfaces and strategies such as turning and repositioning [15]-[17]. These PIP practices are important patient safety measures, but are time consuming, expensive, labour intensive and are less likely to be effective if patients are not fully engaged in their care [18].

There is also a growing trend to actively engage patients in participation in their healthcare [19]. Patient-centred models of care have been shown to enhance adherence to treatment, contribute to improved healthcare outcomes and positively increase patient safety in the acute care setting [20],[21]. However, patient involvement in patient safety is dependent on a number of factors. For example, patients are less likely to initiate involvement if the task is complex [21], involves challenging a healthcare professional’s behaviour or requires adopting an unfamiliar action [22]. Moving and repositioning, hydration and skincare are key components of PIP [11]. These are neither complex concepts to understand nor difficult actions to undertake for some acute care patients. Hence, some patients may be able to assume a more active role in PIP in the hospital setting. This in turn could reduce some of the financial, time and physical burden associated with healthcare professional delivery of PIP and help to improve patient outcomes.

However, patients’ views of their perceived role in PIP is little understood [23],[24]. A recent literature search undertaken for the purpose of this study found no articles exploring patients’ perceived role in PIP. Understanding how patients view their role and contribution to their PIP will provide an important insight into how patients can contribute to this important area of patient safety. The aims of our study were to survey acute care patients’ views on their perceived roles in PIP, and the factors that enable or inhibit their ability to undertake such a role.

Sixty-three patients were approached to participate and from those 51 patients consented, giving a response rate of 80%. Demographic and pressure injury risk assessment details are provided in Table 1. The mean age of the participants was 65 years (sd = 16.6) and over half were female. Most participants were located on the orthopaedic ward and almost three quarters of the cohort were admitted as surgical patients (scheduled for or recovering from surgery). Approximately half of the sample were assessed as being at moderate-high risk of pressure injury as measured by the Waterlow or Braden tools. Four (8%) patients had a current PI (three were hospital acquired) and seven (14%) reported having had a PI within the past 12 months.

Most patients stated that they understood what a PI is (n = 41 80%) and agreed that patients had a role in PIP (n = 44 86%). Only a third (n = 19 37%) reported receiving PIP information from a staff member during their current admission.

When asked to comment on causes of pressure injuries, participants demonstrated some knowledge of the physiological risk factors for pressure injuries frequently citing ‘reduced circulation’ and immobility. One participant stated that a PI is something, ‘they [patients] get if they are in hospital too long and definitely if you go to a nursing home’.

Table 2 summarises the responses to questions about patient comfort. The mean pain score was 4.2 indicating moderate levels of pain. Approximately two-thirds of participants responded that thermal comfort level while in bed was ‘just right’. Over a half felt uncomfortable after an hour in bed. The main factors contributing to discomfort while sitting or lying in bed were being in one position, mattresses or cushions (75%). Comments included ‘mattresses make back sweaty’, ‘mattress not large enough’, ‘terrible pillows and plastic coating makes me hot’. More than half (51%) stated that being in one position while sitting or lying in bed contributed to discomfort. Discomfort was frequently cited as a motivating factor for self-repositioning. Over a half required assistance to reposition; the majority experienced no discomfort during repositioning.

Respondents identified a number of ways in which hospitalised patients could play a role in PIP. These strategies were grouped under three main themes as shown in Table 3: Keep skin healthy; Listen to your body; Looking after the inside. In relation to Keep skin healthy the majority of strategies included skin assessment; skin care (keeping skin moisturised and free of injury) and skin hygiene. Early intervention in the event of a developing PI was also regarded as important. Listen to your body included strategies focused on moving and repositioning; using equipment such as monkey-bars to help move self and also referred to the use of support and cushioning aids to reduce/relieve pressure. Some stated the importance of having access to ‘special’ mattresses and other support surfaces. There was also mention of strategies not supported by evidence, for example using ring cushions and the use of anticoagulation. Some participants stated that their skin was currently healthy and they were unconcerned with how to keep it healthy. Looking after the inside reflected views on the need to ensure that they ate well and kept hydrated.

Table 4 shows the three themes associated with barriers and enablers to patient participation in PIP: Mange pain and discomfort; Work together; and Ongoing pressure injury education. The first theme, Manage pain and discomfort, indicates physical factors such as pain, stiffness, numbness and a lack of strength affected ability to change position while in bed or in a chair. Some patients stated that the pain and effort required to move was a disincentive to unaided repositioning. In addition, the discomfort caused by mattresses, described as ‘hard, hot and sticky’, was an impediment to moving. Heavy bandaging or splinting of a limb made mobilisation and position changes problematic as did infusion pumps, in-dwelling catheters, drains, monitors and negative pressure wound therapy devices. Several patients also said that they lacked the confidence to mobilise (due to illness, injury or recent surgery).

In terms of the second theme, Work together, participants identified/highlighted the importance of involvement of staff, for example in prompting patients to move and checking patient comfort and pain levels. Requiring staff assistance and waiting for help from hospital staff were also nominated as barriers. Open-ended comments indicated some participants had not moved much in the past 24 hours, and others commented that they were rarely or never woken and encouraged to change position overnight. Respondents also expressed interest in working cooperatively with staff to prevent pressure injuries. Ongoing PI education both face to face and in the form of leaflets, was the third theme. While some suggested that information on PIP should be given during the preadmission consultation, others suggested in the post-operative period when they were on the path to recovery and be more likely to retain information. Others mentioned the importance of education throughout the admission period.

This study produces new knowledge on patients’ knowledge of pressure injury prevention , their views on their perceived roles in pressure injury prevention and of barriers and enablers to patient participation in pressure injury preventive strategies. Importantly, most participants thought that patients have a role in PIP. When asked, what patients could do to keep their skin healthy, the majority of participant responses focused on evidence-based strategies such as mobilizing and changing position and the importance of skincare and hydration. Recent national guidelines confirm the importance of these strategies [11]. Other important PIP strategies including appropriate nutrition and skin assessment were also, although less frequently, identified by participants. While there was high awareness of the importance of repositioning and moving and also of skin-care, the nomination of non-recommended strategies such as massage and rubbing and the use of ring cushions suggest that patients would benefit from evidence-based PIP education.

Discomfort that arises out of inert positioning is a primary stimulus for repositioning [16],[26]. Hospitalised patients, however, may not always be able to respond to this stimulus if pain or disability, prevent them from doing so. In the present study, some patients stated that the pain associated with repositioning was enough to deter them from such activity. Pain as a barrier to moving and repositioning has been noted by others [5],[27]. This is of concern in relation to this sample, who being from either orthopaedic or neurology wards were considered at-risk of pressure injury. We found, as have others, that patients are often reluctant to communicate that they are in pain and request assistance [5] despite being in considerable discomfort. In our sample the range of pain experienced was from nil pain to up to the maximum score. Health care staff may underestimate how much pain is experienced by patients [5] and national guidelines recommend that pain assessment should be a fundamental component of pressure area care [11]. If pain is eliminated or minimised, patients may be more likely to adhere to self-maintenance behaviours such as turning and repositioning. Staff may also underestimate the discomfort caused to patients by cushions and mattresses, which were also cited by many participants as an impediment to moving.

Even patients that exhibit positive health-seeking behaviour are at risk of inappropriate self-management if they are not provided with appropriate resources [23]. In our study, two-thirds of participants had not received information on PIP and were therefore reliant on past experiences and their own knowledge and assumptions about PIP. However, participants believed prevention is better than cure and that PIP education should begin at or before admission. Frequently, patients are given PIP information sheets during pre-admission clinic. However, this is given at a somewhat stressful time when patients are preparing for or being assessed for planned surgery. Reading such information may therefore not be a priority at this time. Patients might be more receptive to PIP education when they are out of the immediate post-operative stage and further into their admission, and are more alert and able to implement some strategies themselves. Throughout hospital admission patient needs for information varies over time [28]. Therefore giving the patient written and verbal information on more than one occasion may better meet their needs.

Participants also thought that frequent reminding by nurses during ward rounds to mobilise or reposition would be helpful and also give patients the opportunity to request analgesia. That some participants said it was difficult to request assistance with PIP or that they did not feel empowered to do so, suggests that a way forward may be partnerships with staff and a ward culture whereby patients are informed that they have a right to prompt and ask for assistance with skin care, repositioning or help with addressing the issue of adequate temperature control where hot and sticky beds may compromise the maintenance of a healthy micro-climate [29]. Written information can also help build relationships between staff and patients by making it easier for patients to ask or raise questions during encounters with health professionals [28].

Patient-centred models of care in acute care settings increase adherence to treatment and contribute to improved outcomes [20],[21]. Pressure injury prevention (PIP) strategies such as repositioning, skin care, including avoiding skin extremes of heat and cold, and hydration [11],[29] are relatively simple actions, that for those patients who are able, can undertake and thus have a more active role in PIP. However, patient adherence to prevention strategies is dependent on a complex interplay of factors but can be improved by a number of strategies. Ensuring that the patient is supported by their health care team; that they understand their condition and the need for prevention strategies; and assessing if they have the resources, motivation and ability to act in concordance with the prevention or treatment plan [30] are key in facilitating self-management activities.

This study showed that although patients demonstrated a good awareness of the need to respond to signs and symptoms of potential pressure injury, patient knowledge of PIP was variable. Furthermore, their involvement in PIP was reliant on a number of factors such as having pain and discomfort addressed, feeling empowered to request assistance and the need for ongoing PIP education. In order to provide patient-centred care and ensure adherence to PIP regimes, healthcare professionals need to ensure that patients understand their risk of PI and how and why they are working toward prevention goals. Furthermore, healthcare professionals should identify the patient’s ability and motivation to prevent PI and ensure that they are adequately supported to adhere to prevention regimes, and that pain and comfort levels are managed to facilitate movement and repositioning. Future research on health professionals’ perspectives about patient participation in PIP is required.

EM: BA (Hons) Grad Dip App Sci (Nursing) MPH, PhD, Deputy Director, NRI.

WC: RN BSc (Nurs) MNurs PhD, Director, NCREN.

EdM: RN Grad Dip Nurs, Mgn MCN, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Quality Manager.

TA: RN BN (Hons) Project Manager, NRI.

PJ: RN, Grad Cert (Orthopaedics), MNurs (Clinical Leadership) Clinical Nurse Specialist.