A Practical Problem in Extant Literature or Professional Practice (Pressure Ulcers)
In the contemporary medical world, pressure sores still affect many patients despite the focus of providing quality healthcare. That is the case because decubitus ulcers are both common in clinical areas located within the USA and in the extant literature. As such, pressure ulcer is a practical problem that needs a quick address if the current situation is to change. In essence, this paper aims to justify the significance of this problem by shedding more light on the magnitude of this challenge in the USA. Moreover, it will determine the key themes of pressure sores highlighted in the extant literature.
Primarily, the magnitude of the decubitus ulcers problem in the USA is of the essence in depicting the significance of this challenge. The number of persons affected by this undesirable healthcare event has been on the rise in the recent years. That is the case because close to 2.5 million individuals are victims of this unwanted healthcare outcome every year (Pickham, Ballew, Ebong, Shinn, Lough, & Mayer, 2016). Besides, the cost incurred in dealing with the challenge of pressure sores is another indicator of the size of this problem. A case in point the USA government spends approximately 11 billion US dollars every year to manage this condition (Pickham et al., 2016). Additionally, concerning the individual cost of treatment, persons with pressure sores have to pay more money for healthcare services as compared to pressure ulcer-free individual. Central to this extra cost are factors such as increased length of hospital stay and decubitus ulcer-related complications such as infection (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2016). Evidently, with all these instances, it is beyond doubt that the issue of pressure sore bears a lot of weight that cannot be taken lightly.
One key theme in the literature focusing on decubitus ulcers is the risk factors associated with this problem. Such is the case because this information is of utmost importance for the prevention of this unwanted healthcare event. Across many studies, there is a consensus that old age is a major predisposing factor to this condition. The rationale for this association is the thin-layered skin existent in elderly persons that cannot sustain pressure for long. Consequently, they develop decubitus ulcers. Also, impaired mobility is another factor that scholars have pointed out to increase the likelihood of developing this condition (Sving, Gunningberg, Högman, and Mamhidir, 2012). With such knowledge of the risk factors, it is apparent where healthcare personnel ought to put more emphasis in their bid to address this issue.
Finally, efforts to address challenge are existent and are worth noting. A befitting example of a commonly used strategy is the patient turning after every two hours. Such an intervention relieves pressure from the bony prominences and subsequently reducing the chances of developing ulcers. Other preventive strategies complementing this preventive action in clinical areas include but not limited to pressure area care, Continuously Bedside Pressure Mapping system and use of pressure reduction devices (Behrendt, Ghaznavi, Mahan, Craft, & Siddiqui, 2014).
Concisely, this paper aimed at justifying the significance of the problem of pressure sores determining its key themes as highlighted in the extant literature. Indeed, from this discussion, it is indisputable that an analysis of this issue is of the essence based on the burden caused by this problem. In the absence of such scrutiny, it is beyond doubt that pressure sores will continue to hinder the progress of the USA economy to the unforeseeable future given the high cost of health.
References
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.(2016). Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment and Prevention: A Comparative Effectiveness Review. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Retrieved 4 May2017, from http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/…/search-fo…
Behrendt, R., Ghaznavi, A., Mahan, M., Craft, S., & Siddiqui, A. (2014). Continuous Bedside Pressure Mapping and Rates of Hospital-Associated Pressure Ulcers in a Medical Intensive Care Unit.American Journal Of Critical Care, 23(2), 127-133. http://dx.doi.org/10.4037/ajcc2014192
Pickham, D., Ballew, B., Ebong, K., Shinn, J., Lough, M., & Mayer, B. (2016). Evaluating optimal patient-turning procedures for reducing hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (LS-HAPU): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, 17(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13063-016-1313-5
Sving, E., Gunningberg, L., Högman, M., & Mamhidir, A. (2012). Registered nurses’ attention to and perceptions of pressure ulcer prevention in hospital settings. Journal Of Clinical Nursing, 21(9-10), 1293-1303. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2011.04000.x
