Reliability of pressure ulcer staging: a review of literature and 1 institution's strategy.

Pressure ulcers are an increasing health care problem. Accurate identification and classification of pressure ulcers impacts patient outcomes, health care costs, and quality initiatives.To identify existing evidence related to answering the question "Does bedside nursing staff accurately and reliably stage pressure ulcers as evidenced in their documentation?" Further evidence from one large tertiary care center with pressure ulcer identification and staging by nurses is also reported. Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and MEDLINE databases were searched to identify existing evidence on the accuracy and reliability of pressure ulcer classification by nurses. Two reviewers independently screened results. A total of 54 full-text articles were obtained for review and 10 were included for final review. In addition, the accuracy and consistency of pressure ulcer identification and staging were examined at one large tertiary health system by extracting data from electronic health records for 1488 patient visits and assessments for 1499 patients. Comparisons were done for pressure ulcer documentation from 1 nurse's assessment to the following shift nurse's assessment and from the bedside nurse's assessment to assessments done by pressure ulcer experts.Review of the literature revealed that the reliability of pressure ulcer identification and classification is limited and highly variable. Some reports in the literature suggested nurses had difficulty distinguishing a pressure ulcer from other types of wounds. In addition, inaccuracies in pressure ulcer documentation were also identified. Further analysis of data within one large tertiary health care system revealed unreliable pressure ulcer documentation.

Acceptability and effectiveness of opportunistic referral of smokers to telephone cessation advice from a nurse: a randomised trial in Australian general practice.

BACKGROUND: GPs often lack time to provide intensive cessation advice for patients who smoke. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of opportunistic referral of smokers by their GP for telephone cessation counselling by a trained nurse. METHODS: Adult smokers (n = 318) attending 30 GPs in South Western Sydney, Australia were randomly allocated to usual care or referral to a telephone-based program comprising assessment and stage-based behavioural advice, written information and follow-up delivered by a nurse. Self-reported point prevalence abstinence at six and 12 months was compared between groups. Characteristics of patients who accepted and completed the intervention were investigated. RESULTS: Of 169 smokers randomised to the intervention, 76 (45%) consented to referral. Compared with smokers in 'pre-contemplation', those further along the stage-of-change continuum were significantly more likely to consent (p = 0.003). Those further along the continuum also were significantly more likely to complete all four calls of the intervention (OR 2.6, 95% CI: 0.8-8.1 and OR 8.6, 95% CI: 1.7-44.4 for 'contemplation' and 'preparation' respectively). At six months, there was no significant difference between groups in point prevalence abstinence (intention to treat) (9% versus 8%, p = 0.7). There was no evidence of differential intervention effectiveness by baseline stage-of-change (p = 0.6) or patient sex (p = 0.5). At 12 months, point prevalence abstinence in the intervention and control groups was 8% and 6% respectively (p = 0.6). CONCLUSION: Acceptance of opportunistic referral for nurse delivered telephone cessation advice was low. This trial did not demonstrate improved quit rates following the intervention. Future research efforts might better focus support for those patients who are motivated to quit. AUSTRALIAN CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRY NUMBER: ACTRN012607000091404.