Estimating the risk of pressure ulcer development: is it truly evidence based?

The aim of the current method of screening patients is to identify risk factors that are considered to cause, or contribute to, pressure ulcer (PU) development. Yet screening has not resulted in a reduction in pressure ulcer development. The literature was reviewed to identify the level of evidence for the inclusion of risk factors in six published pressure ulcer risk-screening tools. Evidence for each risk factor was ranked according to the National Health and Medical Research Council levels of evidence with a modification. Three of 19 risk factors (mobility, continence and nutrition) included in more than one screening tool have been tested for association with pressure ulcer development. While varying degrees of immobility and decreased serum albumin are reported to significantly increase the risk for PU development, the direction of the relationship, i.e. causal or resultant of PU, is not always clear. No publications reported a significant causal link between incontinence and PU development. Inclusion of risk factors for PU in screening tools must be evidence based. Until other risk factors have been tested for positive predictive value, the Ramstadius approach to screening is the only evidence-based tool.