The Stop Pressure Ulcer Day and Other Initiatives by EPUAP

Abstract

Pressure ulcers are not only a cost-driver for health care systems around the world, but can also result in significant morbidity and even death. The prevalence of pressure ulcers ranges between 8.8 and 29.9% in nursing homes and between 7.3 and 23% in hospitals throughout Europe and North America. These wounds are associated with major problems for patients, their relatives and for care-givers. Reductions in quality of life including pain, changed body image, increased immobility, discomfort, loss of independence and self-control have been reported. The general consensus is that most pressure ulcers could have been prevented. Despite the potential for health gains and reduced costs through effective pressure ulcer prevention there is still an overall lack of awareness of this condition among policy makers and the public. One example of this lack of awareness lies in the continued general use of ‘bedsore’ to describe these wounds rather than ‘pressure ulcer’. This chapter sets out how the EPUAP has contributed to raising the awareness of pressure ulcers throughout Europe.