Advancing pressure ulcer prevention: evaluating the impact of patient and lay carer education

Abstract

Decubitus ulcers, also known as bed ulcers or pressure ulcers, result from prolonged pressure on the skin, with contributing factors such as shear forces, friction and excessive moisture. Pressure ulcers have significant physical, social and psychological consequences for patients and impose a substantial financial burden on healthcare providers. Patient and caregiver education has been suggested as a potential approach for preventing pressure ulcers. In order to investigate the potential preventive impact, O'Connor et al (2021) conducted a Cochrane systematic review. Their study aimed to assess the effectiveness of educational interventions for patients and caregivers in preventing pressure ulcers. This commentary aims to critically appraise the methods used within the Cochrane systematic review by O'Connor et al (2022) and expand on the findings in the context of clinical practice.