Pressure Injury Prevention and Management Clinical Guideline

Version 1.2 approved 17 July 2014

Pressure injuries are highly preventable, and it is recognised that their potentially long healing time has consequences for quality of life, susceptibility to infection, pain, sleep and mood, and the provision of services.

The management of the risk factors for pressure injuries such as poor skin condition, pain, impaired mobility and poor nutritional status will have wider benefits beyond reduction of pressure injury, and support patient-centred care, holistic care and healthy ageing.

The most effective approach to pressure injury prevention and management includes:

  • timely screening and assessment to identify risk factors
  • the engagement of patients and their carers with their health care providers and the treatment offered
  • implementation of a plan of care that is:
    • tailored to the individual and reduces their risk factors
    • supported by systems of care that are focussed on prevention and optimising healing
    • multifactorial and interdisciplinary
    • delivered by a workforce with appropriate skills and knowledge who use appropriate
      techniques and materials to optimise healing and prevent or delay complications
    • inclusive of access to appropriate equipment and products.

The SA Health Pressure Injury Prevention and Management Clinical Guideline (PDF 136KB) describes:

  • clinical practice that is based on the Pan Pacific Clinical Practice Guideline for the Prevention and Management of Pressure Injury, 2012, Australian Wound Management Association.
  • systems for the delivery of care that is in accord with the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standard 8, 2012, Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care.

For this document the term patient is intended to include consumers, client, resident and others receiving health care.