Classification of Pressure Injury Stages and Skin Damage Photographs by RNs and Nursing Students in Spain: An Observational Comparison Study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and classify pressure injuries (PIs) and other skin lesions according to the judgment of hospital-based RNs and nursing students who recently trained in wound care using photographs and comparing findings to those of wound care experts. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational survey. SUBJECT AND SETTING: RNs working at Manacor Hospital, Mallorca, Spain, and third-year nursing students from the University of the Balearic Islands. Data were collected in June 2017. METHODS: The survey instrument was accompanied by a set of 24 photographs in 7 categories of skin lesions, such as PIs or moisture-associated skin damage, which the respondents were asked to classify. Descriptive analysis of the classifications was carried out, and levels of agreement using the chi-square test were compared with evaluations/classifications of a panel of experts. RESULTS: In total, 314 surveys (199 RNs and 115 students) were included in the analyses. Findings showed a wide variability among participants with levels of agreement, with expert opinion ranging from 91.4% to 15.61%. The levels of agreement were substantially lower for unstageable PIs (47.92%), those caused by moisture (53.50%), and mixed etiology (38.37%) than for stages 1-4 PIs. Of note, 62.12% of RNs had not received PI training or continuing education during the previous 2 years. This lack of education was statistically significantly associated with the accuracy of the classification made by the RNs for some of the photographs evaluated such as moisture-associated skin damage. CONCLUSIONS: We found discrepancies in the classification of PIs and other wounds/lesions among experts, RNs, and students. The regular provision of up-to-date information in training and continuing education programs is imperative to maintain nurses' abilities to identify and classify PIs and other skin-related damage.

Fiabilidad del uso de fotografías en la clasificación de heridas relacionadas con la dependencia / Reliability of the use of photographs for the classification of dependence-related lesions

Objetivo: Examinar la fiabilidad de la clasificación de lesiones relacionadas con la dependencia según su etiología mediante fotografías. Método: Se constituyó un panel de 5 expertas que evaluaron 24 fotografías de forma anónima, independiente y ciega, emitiendo un juicio para cada una de ellas. Las fotografías se enviaron por correo electrónico, junto con un cuestionario anónimo que se devolvió a un referente del grupo. Se propusieron 8 opciones de clasificación: úlceras por presión categorías I, II, III y IV, «sospecha de lesión de tejidos profundos», «lesión asociada a la humedad», etiología mixta presión-humedad y etiología multicausal. Se calculó el índice de acuerdo para cada fotografía y el coeficiente Kappa con técnica «jackknife» para cada imagen y cada categoría de clasificación, usando el paquete estadístico Epidat 4.2. Resultados: Los índices de acuerdo observado fueron variables, entre 0,4 y 1 dependiendo de la fotografía. En 6 ocasiones se obtuvo un 100% de acuerdo observado. El coeficiente Kappa global resultó moderado: 0,5202 (IC95%: 0,3850- 0,6542). El coeficiente de concordancia intraclase resultó moderado en 4 de las categorías y bajo en 3 de ellas, siendo alto solamente en úlceras por presión categoría II (Kappa 0,8924. IC 95%: 0,7388-1,0456). La concordancia entre observadoras resultó 0,6602 (IC 95%: 0,4969-0,8081). Conclusiones: La fiabilidad del uso de fotografías para la categorización de lesiones relacionadas con la dependencia resulta moderada, siendo mayor en úlceras por presión categoría II y baja en lesiones de mayor complejidad. Este método, debe ser usado con cautela en la categorización de lesiones crónicas, siendo necesario impulsar acciones formativas

Objective: To examine the reliability of the classification of dependence-related lesions using photography. Method: A panel of 5 experts carried out a blind, anonymous and independent assessment of 24 photographs. Images were sent by electronic mail, together with an anonymous questionnaire that was sent back to a referee of the research group. We suggested 8 options for classification: pressure ulcer (categories I, II, III, IV, or ‘suspect of deep-tissue damage’), moisture-associated damage, pressure-moisture combined aetiology and multifactorial lesion. Concordance index was calculated for every photography. Cohen‘s Kappa index with 'jackknife' technique were calculated for every photograph and category. We used the statistical programme Epidat 4.2. Results: Observed agreement was variable, between 4 and 1 depending on the photography. A consensus of 100% was observed in 6 images. Global Kappa resulted as moderate: 0.5202 (IC95%: 0.3850- 0.6542). Intra-group concordance resulted moderate in 4 categories, low in 3, and high only for pressure ulcer category II (Kappa 0.8924. IC 95%: 0.7388-1.0456). Inter-observer concordance was 0.6602 (IC 95%: 0.4969-0.8081). Conclusions: The reliability of the use of photographs for the categorization of dependence-related lesions is moderate, being higher for category II pressure ulcers and low for more complex wounds. This method must be used with care, and education on the subject is required

Reliability of the use of photographs for the classification of dependence-related lesions. / Fiabilidad del uso de fotografías en la clasificación de heridas relacionadas con la dependencia.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the reliability of the classification of dependence-related lesions using photography. METHOD: A panel of 5 experts carried out a blind, anonymous and independent assessment of 24 photographs. Images were sent by electronic mail, together with an anonymous questionnaire that was sent back to a referee of the research group. We suggested 8 options for classification: pressure ulcer (categories I, II, III, IV, or 'suspect of deep-tissue damage'), moisture-associated damage, pressure-moisture combined aetiology and multifactorial lesion. Concordance index was calculated for every photography. Cohen's Kappa index with 'jackknife' technique were calculated for every photograph and category. We used the statistical programme Epidat 4.2. RESULTS: Observed agreement was variable, between 4 and 1 depending on the photography. A consensus of 100% was observed in 6 images. Global Kappa resulted as moderate: 0.5202 (IC95%: 0.3850- 0.6542). Intra-group concordance resulted moderate in 4 categories, low in 3, and high only for pressure ulcer category II (Kappa 0.8924. IC 95%: 0.7388-1.0456). Inter-observer concordance was 0.6602 (IC 95%: 0.4969-0.8081). CONCLUSIONS: The reliability of the use of photographs for the categorization of dependence-related lesions is moderate, being higher for category II pressure ulcers and low for more complex wounds. This method must be used with care, and education on the subject is required.