Background. Occupational therapists are involved in the prevention and management of pressure ulcers. While many therapists identify challenges with their clinical practice in this area, there is little information available regarding specific occupational therapy interventions or effectiveness. Purpose. The goal of this study was to gain a national perspective of practice in Canada and identify directions and trends in the management of pressure ulcers. Method. A survey was distributed to occupational therapists at 75 facilities across Canada, soliciting information on intervention, practice issues and satisfaction with their practice. Results. Thirty-seven therapists from 36 facilities responded, answering questions about risk assessment tools, referral patterns, interventions and decision-making models, satisfaction with practice, intervention rationales, and recommendations for change. Risk assessment, early intervention and continuity of care were identified as concerns, with a lack of resources identified as a limitation to practice. Seating and positioning were common interventions. Practice Implications. This information can be used by clinicians to direct best practice and professional development goals. Further research is indicated in risk assessment, team collaboration and mattress prescription.
Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR). (1992, May). Pressure ulcers in adults: Prediction and prevention. Clinical Practice Guideline No. 3. Washington, DC: Public Health Service, US Dept of Health and Human Services. AHCPR Publication No. 92–0047. Sponsored by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.
2.
Australian Wound Management Association. (2001). Clinical practice guidelines for the prediction and prevention of pressure ulcers. West Leederville, Australia: Author.
3.
BabbieE. (1990). Survey research methods (2nd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
4.
BankertK.DaughtridgeS.MeehanM.ColburnL. (1996). The application of collaborative benchmarking to the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers. Advances in Wound Care, 9, 21–29.
5.
Bergman-EvansB.CuddiganJ.BergstromN. (1994, September). Clinical practice guidelines: Prediction and prevention of pressure ulcers. Journal of Gerontology Nursing, 19–26.
6.
BrowningD. (1997). A team approach to pressure relief for people with disabilities. Journal of Wound Care, 6, 298–300.
7.
BryantR. A.ShannonM. L.PieperB.BradenB. J.MorrisD. J. (1992). Pressure ulcers. In BryantR. A. (Ed.), Acute and chronic wounds: nursing management (pp. 105–63). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Year Book.
8.
Canadian Healthcare Association. (1999). Guide to Canadian healthcare facilities. Volume 7 (1999–2000), ISSN 1195-0110. Ottawa, ON: CHA Press.
9.
CreswellJ. W. (1994). Research design: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
10.
CullumN.DeeksJ.SheldonT. A.SongF.FletcherA. W. (1999). Beds, mattresses and cushions for pressure sore prevention and treatment (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 3. Oxford: Update Software.
11.
DimantJ.FrancisM. E. (1988). Pressure sore prevention and management. Journal of Gerontology Nursing, 14 (8), 18–25.
12.
DolynchukK.KeastD.CampbellK.HoughtonP.OrstedH.SibbaldG. (2000). Best practices for the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers. Ostomy/Wound Management, 46 (11), 38–52.
13.
DonovanW. H.GarberS. L.HamiltonS. M.KrouskopT. A.RodriguezG.P.StalS., Pressure ulcers. In DeLisaJ. A. (Ed.), Rehabilitation medicine: Principles and practice (pp. 476–91). Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott.
14.
HamiltonL.QuekP.LewN.LiK.ToppR. (1989, Spring). Pressure ulcers: An interdisciplinary protocol for prevention and treatment. Perspectives, 9–15.
15.
KrouskopT. A.NobleP. C.GarberS. L.SpencerW. A. (1983). The effectiveness of preventive management in reducing the occurrence of pressure sores. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Design, 20, 74–83.
16.
MilesM. B.HubermanA. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
17.
PhillipsL. (2000, July). Cost-effective strategy for managing pressure ulcers in critical care: A prospective, non-randomised, cohort study. Journal of Tissue Viability (Suppl), 2–6.
18.
PortneyL. G.WatkinsM. P. (2000). Foundations of clinical research: Applications to practice (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
19.
RamsbottomJ.MortonK. (1995, May). Preventing pressure sores. Community Nurse, 41, 2.
20.
ReganM. B.ByersP. H.MayrovitzH. N. (1995, May/June). Efficacy of a comprehensive pressure ulcer prevention program in an extended care facility. Advances in Wound Care, 8 (3), 49–55.
21.
RodriguezG. P.MurphyK. P. (1996). Current trends in pressure ulcer research. Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 8 (1/2), 1–18.
SAS Institute Inc. (1985). SAS software (Version 5.0) [Computer software]. Cary, NC: SAS Institute.
24.
TalerG. (1997). Management of pressure ulcers in long-term care. Advances in Wound Care, 10 (5), 50–52.
25.
TenpasD. M. (1990, January-February). Multidisciplinary team approach to skin care. Ostomy Wound Management, 50–58.
26.
TrümnerA.PanfilE. M. (2003). Wound care teams for preventing and treating pressure ulcers (Protocol for a Cochrane Review). The Cochrane Library, Issue 4. Chichester, UK: John Wiley and Sons.
27.
Van NessC. (1989, March/April). The implementation of a quality assurance study and program to reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. Journal of Enterostomal Therapy, 16, 61–64.
28.
WaldingM.AndrewsC. (1995, October). Preventing and managing pressure sores in palliative care. Professional Nurse, 11 (1), 33–38.
29.
XakellisG. C.FrantzR. A.LewisA.HarveyP. (1998, January/February). Cost-effectiveness of an intensive pressure ulcer prevention protocol in long-term care. Advances in Wound Care, 11, 22–29.
