Limited Evidence for Pressure Ulcer Prevention or Treatment Methods

Although risk assessment tools can help providers better identify patients at risk for developing pressure ulcers than relying on clinical judgment alone, a corresponding reduction in pressure ulcer incidence has not yet been demonstrated, according to Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment and Prevention: Comparative Effectiveness, a literature review from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The review of 122 studies published over nearly 60 years also found that advanced static support mattresses and overlays resulted in reduced pressure ulcer incidence compared with standard mattresses but that additional research was needed to evaluate other preventive interventions.