Descripción

The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of the application of the risk assessment scales as an initial strategy and priority in the prevention of pressure ulcers (PU) on critically ill patients. The methodology used is based onarticles based on the conceptual basis about research articles written by nurses during 2002 and 2009, that describe the results of the implementation of risk assessment scales used in the prevention of pressure ulcers in different institutions and the latest strategies aimed at caring for these injuries, with the objective to perform an analysis of different scales that allows the identification of the key elements that should be considered in the design of a specific scale for assessing patients who are in an intensive care unit (ICU). The measures of prevention program UP used are similar to those mentioned by different authors. One of the strategies used is the assessment by a validated instrument that allows to quantify the risk of a patient suffering from pressure ulcers and therefore to define and to adjust the intensity of preventive measures.