Introduction
Pressure ulcers are common occurrences in the healthcare industry that facilitate the formation of multiple risks and challenges. On the one hand, the development of bedsores may lead to health complications and increased risks for the patients. On the other hand, the hospital stays and costs increase, which is a limitation on the overall healthcare system. As a result, the problem is to be addressed using evidence-based practices and existing research on the topic, which allows for a comprehensive solution to be implemented. In this paper, the implementation of pressure ulcer checklists will be discussed using relevant evidence as well as applying the theoretical framework of the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice.
Evidence-Based Practice
In order for the implementation of pressure ulcer checklists to be discussed, it is essential to determine whether the strategy is supported by relevant evidence. In this case, Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) facilitates the determination of the validity, success, and risks of certain tools that can be practically applied. Based on EBP principles, a practice is valid when supported by systematic reviews (Baigrie & Mercuri, 2020). Thus, articles in which multiple research pieces are discussed and summarized with a conclusion in favor of the method are most suitable. Moreover, the validity of the sources also depends on the type of information that is published, that being filtered or unfiltered. The clinically relevant research may be a randomized trial or a critically appraised article, which would be more viable. Needless to say, the implementation of a practice that has not been experimented upon and published in a scholarly journal cannot be considered evidence-based practice despite a potential correlation with clinical judgment.
Bedsore Checklists
The implementation of pressure ulcer checklists is supported by relevant articles based on research. A systematic review examining various guidelines relating to pressure ulcer prevention highlights the importance of frequent pressure redistribution and repositioning of certain patients prone to bedsores (Lechner et al., 2019). Moreover, a 3-year observational study performed by Yadav and Kaushal (2020) has illustrated the importance of effective monitoring techniques, which can also be implemented as a checklist. The articles present both filtered and unfiltered information in regards to the benefits of the implementation of checklists, are published in peer-reviewed journals, and rely on recent information.
Iowa Model
For the practical implementation of the solution in a medical setting, the Iowa Model can be applied. If the checklist is to be implemented, the model highlights the importance of determining the issue and opportunities (Buckwalter et al., 2017). Thus, bedsores are common, costly to treat and correlate with risks. Moreover, they are preventable, which is in favor of implementation. In regards to the purpose, the aim is to reduce the risk of pressure ulcer occurrence through checklists. The topic is a priority, implying that a boar is to be formed that will monitor, supervise, and educate practitioners on the use of the checklists. Relevant evidence will be gathered, and research in favor of the method will highlight its validity. Certain points in the checklists can be implemented early on, and after the evaluation of the intervention, the full project can be applied. Further evaluation of the final implementation will also be required.
Conclusion
Applying evidence-based practice when combating the risks of pressure ulcer development is an effective way of creating a safer environment for the patients and reducing the burden on the healthcare industry as a whole. As a result, the solutions that are to be practically implemented are more likely to correlate with a positive impact. Moreover, subjectivity is reduced, and, instead, the intervention relies on evidence and clinically relevant research, which minimizes the risks of failure.
References
Baigrie, B., & Mercuri, M. (2020). Relevance, validity, and evidential reasoning in clinical practice. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 26(5), 1341–1343.
Buckwalter, K. C., Cullen, L., Hanrahan, K., Kleiber, C., McCarthy, A. M., Rakel, B., Steelman, V., Tripp-Reimer, T., & Tucker, S. (2017). Iowa model of evidence-based practice: Revisions and validation.Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 14(3), 175–182.
Lechner, A., Kottner, J., Coleman, S., Muir, D., Bagley, H., Beeckman, D., Chaboyer, W., Cuddigan, J., Moore, Z., Rutherford, C., Schmitt, J., Nixon, J., & Balzer, K. (2019). Outcomes for pressure ulcer trials (outputs): Protocol for the development of a core domain set for trials evaluating the clinical efficacy or effectiveness of pressure ulcer prevention interventions. Trials, 20(1).
Yadav, A., & Kaushal, R. (2020). Bedsore is a curse in disguise: Capturing the Zeitgeist.International Surgery Journal, 7(4), 1229.