Qualitative perspectives on the early identification of pressure ulcers in people with dark skin tones

Start date

April 2023

End date

April 2024

Overview

A two-phase study design was employed. The first phase involved conducting 22 interviews with people with dark skin tones and/or their family carers, who were known to and visited by community nurses for pressure area management or had a high pressure area risk assessment score. In the second phase, three group interviews and six individual interviews were conducted with community nurses to explore how they assess early-stage pressure ulcers among people with dark skin tones. All interviews were carried out online, transcribed and analysed to help develop themes.

The findings from both phases of the study have provided valuable insights into how early-stage pressure damage is identified among people with dark skin tones. These insights have informed the development of patient-informed educational strategies for nurses and health workers, aimed at enabling the early identification of pressure ulcers in this population. By influencing and informing clinical policies and strategies, these findings have the potential to significantly reduce health inequities.

Aims and objectives

Aim:

The aim of the study is to examine the personal experiences of people with dark skin tones, from the perspective of patients and/or their carers, and from the perspective of community registered nurses.

Objectives:

To explore how people with dark skin tones and/or their family carers identify earlystage pressure ulcers in their own homes (Phase 1).
To identify how registered nurses working in the community assess early-stage pressure ulcers among people with dark skin tones (Phase 2).
To develop effective and inclusive clinical strategies to support patient safety in the prevention and assessment of pressure ulcers for people with dark skin tones.

Resources

An Image: How people with dark skin tones see pressure ulcers on their skin for professionals working in health and social care services, to support the delivery of good care for people with dark skin tones.
An image titled "Enhancing Pressure Ulcer Care and Awareness for Patients with Dark Skin Tones," featuring key advice and guidance from experts in wound care and patient advocacy. This visual guide is designed to support healthcare and social care professionals, offering practical tips and inclusive strategies for improved care. The image will include bullet points on topics such as recognizing subtle signs of pressure damage in darker skin tones, understanding specific risk factors, and engaging in patient-centered communication to improve outcomes. Expert quotes or insights could be highlighted to reinforce the importance of inclusive, proactive care in preventing pressure ulcers across diverse populations.

How to access the resources

The Qualitative perspectives on the early identification of pressure ulcers in people with dark skin tones resources are free to use but we ask you to have regard to the following conditions of their use:

Do not distribute these resources to anyone else – if anyone asks for a copy please direct them to this web page so they can download them.
If you use these resources or any part of them, we would be grateful if you would please:
1. Acknowledge the authorship team
2. Send copies of any reports/papers that are produced to Dr Neesha Oozageer Gunowa (n.oozageergunowa@surrey.ac.uk)
3. Let us have any comments/suggestions that you feel might improve these resources so that your experience can be incorporated into subsequent updates.

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