Date of Award

2004

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Community & Environmental Health

Program/Concentration

Community Health Professions

Committee Director

Colin E. Box

Committee Member

Gail Grisetti

Committee Member

Susan Hunter

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.C48 A78 2004

Abstract

The development of pressure ulcers is a common occurrence among older persons who may be temporarily immobilized or confined to a bed. An estimated 60,000 deaths annually can be attributed to complications from pressure ulcers. Guidelines recommended by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research have been disseminated nationally and continue to be recommended as the standard of care for pressure ulcer prevention. In spite of the use of the recommended guidelines, pressure ulcer rates persist, suggesting there are other factors contributing to pressure ulcer development in long-term care facilities.

A survey was conducted to investigate which provider related factors and patient related factors most likely contribute to pressure ulcer development in residents of long-term care facilities. Questionnaires were mailed to 150 long-term care nursing facilities in Virginia. A total of 50 completed surveys were returned. The results indicated that the provider related factors of most importance were infrequent education and training in pressure ulcer prevention and the high turnover rate of CNAs. The patient related factor of most importance was the presence of more than two chronic conditions in most residents. There is a need for increased frequency of training directed at CNAs, improvement in CNA retention, frequent assessment of high-risk patients by nursing staff

Comments

75 pp.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

DOI

10.25777/eccz-f845

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