Healthcare Associated Conditions, the Case of Pressure Ulcers as a Quality Metric among Healthcare Staff

Abstract

The study discusses pressure ulcers’ awareness and practice among healthcare staff, including procedures and policy, assuming those staff members are fully aware and have efficient policies. The study also explores what health care staff suggest in order to improve patient safety practices in their establishments. Descriptive analytical approach applied in this paper, to explore multiple aspects of the topic. The researchers use (Google Docs) online platform to create, distribute, and collect the questionnaire, which contain seven phrases. Statgraphics Centurion version 19 is used to carry out the statistical analyses of responses gathered from 118 participant. Statistical analysis includes several tests: Likert scale, and analysis of means (ANOM), and text mining using R. Results show that respondents are confidently sure about their knowledge about pressure ulcer. Patients in participants’ institutions does not get examined upon admission nor during their stay, for pressure ulcer. Patient safety policy, and procedures are not fully deployed nor communicated in participants’ institutions. There are no documented work instructions, neither a procedure to handle pressure ulcer in respondents’’ institutions. Respondents do not get systematic continuous training programs regarding patient safety. Awareness, quality, training, and courses are areas for improvement, as suggested by the participants. The study also arrived to some recommendations such as training staff in order to accurately identify pressure ulcers and tissue damage from pressure, designing and executing adequate patient safety programs, policies, and procedures, and finally more commitment to quality.