Establishing the validity of pressure ulcer risk assessment scales: a novel approach using illustrated patient scenarios

摘要: Preventing pressure ulcers is an important nursing goal and over the years a number of risk assessment scales (RASs) have been developed to expedite clinical judgement. The aim this study was examine validity three most commonly used RASs compared nurses’ own Patient simulations were presented 236 nurses. Nine hundred forty one assessments completed ratings from panel tissue viability experts. Clinical judgement exactly matched expert opinion (69.1%) more often than with any RASs. Waterlow Score in 20% cases, Braden Scale 8.5% cases Norton 4.6% cases. Thus none these can be considered valid, assuming that genuinely reflected ‘gold standard’ terms external criterion. implications for practice are far-reaching considering extent which currently reach decisions relating deployment expensive pressure-relieving aids time.