The AWMA Guidelines for the Prediction and Prevention of Pressure
Ulcers [4] were successfully implemented in a home nursing
organization via a pilot project. Pressure ulcer risk assessment
became an accepted and valuable component of client care, both at
the pilot site and organizational wide in the 3 years that followed.
Clinical data collected via the risk assessment tool during the pilot
study were determined to be useful for profiling and reporting.
Activities directed towards the uptake of clinical practice guidelines
should include strategies to support, educate and enable clinicians
to practice from an evidence base. The usefulness of a pilot
approach should be considered, particularly when the impact of
practice change may be great and the learning is significant.
Ongoing measurement of the sustainability of practice change
should be conducted.
The potential for effective and early prevention strategies
among people who live at home is evident and may be particularly
beneficial among people who are at low risk of developing a
pressure ulcer. Research regarding pressure ulcer screening and
intervention in this setting and among this client group is an area
for development.