Assessment of pressure ulcers risk in a Unit of geriatrics
Lago González Mª.L.

SUMMARY

   The primary aim of the study is to find out the risk of pressure ulcers in a unit of geriatrics, according to the Braden Scale, to relate it to the principal nursing diagnoses found and to visualize the above mentioned risk with the demographic character and clinical character variables. As secondary aims, we wanted to determine which items of the Braden Scale prevail in the assessment of the total risk in the studied patients and the prevalence and effect of pressure ulcers within the period of study. The design of this investigation corresponds to a descriptive market study. After its completion, we can conclude that more than half of the hospitalized patients presented a risk of developing pressure ulcers and that this increased with age and medical pathologies related to the decrease or alteration of the mobility.

KEY WORDS

   Braden, pressure ulcers, geriatrics, nursing diagnoses, evaluation, risk.

Vol. 18 nº3-2007