A quality improvement initiative programme to reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcer

Introduction: A localised injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue during an inpatient hospital stay is defined as hospital-acquired pressure ulcer (HAPU). Critically ill patients face heightened vulnerability to develop pressure ulcers, which amplify morbidity and mortality rates. The objective is to implement a quality improvement initiative programme (QIIP) to reduce the incidence of HAPU by identifying the areas for improvement and improving the use of prevention strategies in an intensive care unit. Methods: Quasi-experimental methods were used for this QIIP, in which 46 patients’ skin was surveyed in concurrent audits conducted during 3 months (May 2017 to July 2017). One-on-one clinical instruction was provided to bedside nurses during the surveys, and pressure ulcer data were displayed in the clinical area. Results: The incidence rate of pressure ulcers decreased from 50% to 23% in May and June 2017 reduced to 0% in July 2017. Effective application of skin care products resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence rate of pressure ulcers from 50% to 0%. Quality improvement initiatives effectively reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers. Conclusions: The implemented programme successfully reduced the incidence rate of pressure ulcers among vulnerable intensive-care patients. This underscores the effectiveness of quality improvement initiatives in enhancing patient outcomes. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that such initiatives can be easily implemented utilising clinical expertise and existing resources.