Conclusion The present study has shown that patients admitted to a General District hospital with a PU (CAPU) or acquire a PU during their inpatient stay (HAPU) are older and have an extended length of stay than those at risk who do not develop a PU. The present study has also shown that a proportion of HAPU and CAPU patients do not receive a pressure redistributing support surface within 24 hours of being defined at risk of PUs. The retrospective evaluation of patient records also revealed that HAPU patients have an extended length of hospital stay and have a higher proportion of pressure ulcers in the heels compared to CAPU patients. In addition, those with CAPU or HAPU were more likely to have been admitted from a nursing or residential home setting, requiring an emergency admission than the no PU group. Further prospective studies are required to investigate the care pathway factors which can influence CAPU and HAPU patients and future healthcare cost models need to address the differences observed between these patient sub-populations. References Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (Ahrq). 2011. Preventing pressure ulcers in hospitals: a toolkit for improving quality [Online]. Rockville, MD. [Accessed 19th June 2015]. Barrois, B., Labalette, C., Rousseau, P., Corbin, A., Colin, D. & Saumet, J. L. 2008. A national prevalence study of pressure ulcers in French hospital inpatients. Journal of Wound Care, 17, 378-9.
Conclusion The present study has shown that patients admitted to a General District hospital with a PU (CAPU) or acquire a PU during their inpatient stay (HAPU) are older and have an extended length of stay than those at risk who do not develop a PU. The present study has also shown that a proportion of HAPU and CAPU patients do not receive a pressure redistributing support surface within 24 hours of being defined at risk of PUs. The retrospective evaluation of patient records also revealed that HAPU patients have an extended length of hospital stay and have a higher proportion of pressure ulcers in the heels compared to CAPU patients. In addition, those with CAPU or HAPU were more likely to have been admitted from a nursing or residential home setting, requiring an emergency admission than the no PU group. Further prospective studies are required to investigate the care pathway factors which can influence CAPU and HAPU patients and future healthcare cost models need to address the differences observed between these patient sub-populations. References Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (Ahrq). 2011. Preventing pressure ulcers in hospitals: a toolkit for improving quality [Online]. Rockville, MD. [Accessed 19th June 2015]. Barrois, B., Labalette, C., Rousseau, P., Corbin, A., Colin, D. & Saumet, J. L. 2008. A national prevalence study of pressure ulcers in French hospital inpatients. Journal of Wound Care, 17, 378-9.
Characteristics%2520of%2520Patients%2520who%2520are%2520admitted%2520with%2520or%2520acquire%2520Pressure%2520Ulcers%2520in%2520a%2520District%2520General%2520Hospital.docx