Education programs on pressure ulcers and quality improvement are vital in prevention of pressure ulcers. Health care institutions such as hospitals, schools and various healthcare agencies should develop educational programs designed to translate knowledge about pressure into productive treatment strategies. The purpose of such programs are as follows:
1.Promote healing of pressure ulcers.
2.Prevention of Deterioration of pressure ulcers.
3.Prevention of the New pressure ulcer repeated occurrence.
4.Providing knowledge to health care providers on how to recognize and treat pressure ulcers.
5.To provide knowledge to patients and families on pressure ulcer and to get them involved in the plan of care.
The educational program development should be designed, developed and the programs will meet the need of patients, health care providers, caregivers and reflect a continuity of care.
Who Are the Targeted Audience?.
The educational programs should target the Proper Healthcare professionals, Patients, Families and Caregivers.
This is important for continuity of care and to transfer information from from healthcare workers to others and support retention. Teaching methodology should include demonstration, return demonstration, explanations, practice,group discussion and skills days.
Pain management should be addressed, discomfort,body image disturbance,the duration of treatment and outcome.
Patient should be actively involve in their plan of care.
Who Are the people Responsible for Pressure Ulcer Treatment.
Every healthcare professionals, families, patients should be responsible to the treatment of pressure ulcer and the role of each identified.
Topics to be Discussed in Educational Programs are:
1.History of the patient. ( Health history, diabetes,Hypertension, polysubstance abuse, polypharmacy,history of wound)
2.The Etiology of wound and pathophysiology.
3.Stages of tissue damage.
4.Important of nutrients and nutritional supplements.
5.Wound healing. Pre and postoperative care including support surfaces and positioning.
6.Importance of wound cleaning and infection control.
7Mechanics of accurate documentations ,measurements, monitoring, data collection, plan of care, implementation, intervention and the healing stages,and outcome.
8.Prevention of repeated occurrence.
9.Assessment of skin intergrity/ impairment.
10.Educational programs should be an ongoing process.
11.There should be a targeted goals,short term goals and long term goals.
This will involve plan and monitor the progress of the program. Measure the activities, assess the findings and find areas that needs improvement and continue to work on it.
Reference:
Education of Healthcare professionals for preventing Pressure Ulcers by AP Porter-Armstrong-2018.
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