Incidence of hospital-acquired pressure injuries and predictors of severity in a paediatric hospital (11 March 2024)

Summary

Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) pose significant challenges in healthcare and cause increased patient suffering, longer hospital stays and higher healthcare costs. Children in hospital face unique risks, but evidence about this remains scarce. This study in the Journal of Advanced Nursing aimed to identify and describe HAPI admission incidence and severity predictors in a large Australian children's hospital.

The authors found that HAPI injuries in paediatric patients are unacceptably high. They argue that prevention should be prioritised and the quality of care improved globally. They also call for further research to develop targeted prevention strategies for these vulnerable populations.