Evaluating the impact on hospital acquired pressure injury/ulcer incidence in a United Kingdom NHS Acute Trust from use of sub-epidermal scanning technology.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of pressure injury/ulcers is persistent despite multiple prevention strategies in hospitals across the globe. Current standard of pressure injury/ulcer care supported by subjective skin tissue assessments, risk assessment tools and clinical judgement is ineffective in consistent pressure injury/ulcer prevention. AIM: A pragmatic study, aligning with SQUIRE guidelines, was conducted at Chelsea and Westminster hospitals to measure the impact of adding scanning technology to the prevailing standard of care pathway on the incidence of category 2-4 hospital-acquired pressure injury/ulcers. METHODS: Six hundred and ninety-seven mixed-population patients at risk for pressure injuries/ulcers with a Waterlow score of ≥10 and a mean age ≥65 years were enrolled across four wards over a 6-month period. Scanning technology was added to the prevailing standard of care as a device adjunctive to clinical judgement for the detection of deep and early-stage pressure-induced tissue damage. Ward staff completed comprehensive device training by the device manufacturer. Clinical interventions were initiated by clinical judgement informed by injury/ulcer risk assessments, skin and tissue assessments and scanner readings. Incidence of reportable category 2-4 pressure injuries/ulcers from the prior 12-month period from the same wards were used as a control comparator population. All diagnosed category 2-4 pressure injuries/ulcers, unstageable and deep-tissue injuries were recorded. RESULTS: Prior study 12-month pressure injury/ulcer incidence was 0.6% (5/892 patients) in ward A, 4.4% (9/206 patients) in Ward B, 1.1% (12/1,123 patients) in Ward C and 2.6% (16/625 patients) in Ward D. Two pressure injury/ulcers in Ward B were recorded during the study. Zero pressure injuries/ulcers were recorded in the remaining three wards resulting in an 81% incidence reduction across all four wards. Improved clinical decisions from clinical judgement based on Sub-Epidermal Moisture (SEM) Scanner data were reported in 83% patients (n=578/697). CONCLUSION: Implementing scanning technology into routine clinical practice achieves consistent reductions in pressure injury/ulcer incidence.