Pressure injury prevention in an intensive care unit: implementing the best practices

Abstract

Objective: to implement the best evidence in preventing pressure injuries in patients in the intensive care unit of a university hospital in the city of São Paulo/Brazil. Method: a quasi-experimental study whose intervention was implementing evidence based on the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, which includes auditing and feedback. Ten audit criteria were used, which were verified in patient records and training records of the teaching and quality service. The intervention was assessed by comparing the percentage of compliance with audited criteria before and after implementing the best practices. Pearson’s chi-squared test was used. Results:2,677 days of baseline and follow-up audit records were evaluated, regarding 340 patients. Compliance baseline and follow-up audits differed for most criteria (p-value <0.001). The main barriers were the lack of records of essential information on pressure injuries in the medical records, and strategies for overcoming these barriers included a review of the pressure injury prevention protocol and training of the nursing team. Conclusion: the intervention adopted contributed to improving practices regarding the prevention of pressure injuries, expressed by the increase in the rate of compliance with the criteria and the proposal of improvement strategies to overcome barriers.