Systematic review of pressure injury prevalence in Australian and New Zealand hospitals

Journal article

Rodgers, Kyrie, Sim, Jenny and Clifton, Ross. (2021). Systematic review of pressure injury prevalence in Australian and New Zealand hospitals. Collegian. 28(3), pp. 310-323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2020.08.012
AuthorsRodgers, Kyrie, Sim, Jenny and Clifton, Ross
Abstract

Background
Pressure injuries have a major impact on patients and healthcare organisations. The complications of pressure injuries increase morbidity and mortality rates and are costly to individuals and healthcare systems. The total prevalence rate of pressure injuries within acute care hospitals in Australia and New Zealand is unknown, and despite a focus on prevention, pressure injuries still occur within these hospital settings.

Aim
To report the prevalence of pressure injuries within acute care settings in Australian and New Zealand hospitals and to identify the stage and location of pressure injuries and analyse the methods used to conduct pressure injury point prevalence studies.

Methods
A systematic review of studies published in CINAHL, MEDLINE and Cochrane databases and a two-part grey literature search, including a customised Google search and a targeted website search, was undertaken up to July 2019. The systematic review was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018105566).

Findings
The overall prevalence of pressure injuries in acute-care hospitals in Australia and New Zealand is 12.9% (95% CI, 9.5%–16.8%) and the hospital-acquired pressure injury prevalence is 7.9% (95% CI, 5.7%–10.3%). Stage I and stage II are the most common pressure injuries. The most frequent locations for pressure injuries are the sacrum/buttock/coccyx area (41%) and the heels (31%). The reporting of details about methodology varies considerably between studies.

Discussion
Pressure injuries remain a significant problem within acute-care hospital settings. Total prevalence rates are decreasing over time with the numbers of stage I and II pressure injuries decreasing faster than other pressure injuries.

Conclusion
The findings from this study can be used to set performance benchmarks within acute-care hospitals in Australia and New Zealand. Pressure injuries are preventable and pressure injury prevalence studies can be used to monitor the effectiveness of nursing care processes to improve patient outcomes.

KeywordsAustralia; New Zealand; prevalence; pressure injury; pressure ulcer; HAPI; hospital-acquired; adverse event; acute care
Year2021
JournalCollegian
Journal citation28 (3), pp. 310-323
PublisherElsevier Ltd
ISSN1322-7696
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2020.08.012
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85101843041
Page range310-323
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online20 May 2021
Publication process dates
Accepted30 Aug 2020
Deposited21 May 2025
Additional information

© 2020 Australian College of Nursing Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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