Learning Objective #1: Evaluate the direct results of an educational intervention for the incidence of pressure ulcers at an intensive therapy center (ITC)

Learning Objective #2: Identify the clinical practice context in the prevention of pressure ulcers at an ITC of a Brazilian university hospital

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The development of pressure ulcers still represents a great health problem at Intensive Care Units. In Brazil, studies reveal incidence rates ranging from 10.6% to 44.1%. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of educational interventions on nursing professionals' knowledge, on the prevention measures used in their clinical practice and on the incidence rates of pressure ulcers. This study is carried out in different phases, in accordance with the proposal for intervention studies, at an Intensive Therapy Center of a Brazilian University hospital. The population consists of the nursing team members who work at the ITC. This study aimed to develop educational interventions with a view to offering clinical practice guidelines through multiple strategies, focusing on measures for preventing pressure ulcers, based on the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel and the WOCN's recommendations for evidence-based practice. The collected data are being subject to quantitative analysis by means of statistical tests. The dependent variables were measured before and after the educational intervention by testing the nursing team's knowledge on pressure ulcers and prevention measures and incidence rates across a 60-day period. The clinical practice of nursing team members at the ITC was observed with respect to the prevention of pressure ulcers during 50 bed bath procedures. In the pre-intervention phase, pressure ulcers occurred in 57.7% of the patients. The observation of clinical practice in the pre-intervention phase revealed the need to reconsider some of the nursing team's procedures, which are inappropriate in accordance with evidence-based prevention guidelines. This study is now in the post-intervention phase and is expected to end in March 2005.Implications for practice nursing will be discussed.