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Purpose This study aimed to identify factors for the development of pressure ulcers ( PU) in hospitalized patients between 1 and 18 years of age. Design and Methods A multicenter, descriptive, cross-sectional study in 13 hospitals was conducted in Switzerland. Results The prevalence of PUs in this population of 204 children was 26.5%, with 83% category 1 PUs. A third of all PUs developed along external devices. Older children developed more PUs because of ineffective positioning and limited mobility. Practice Implications It is important to assess each child's activity, mobility, and the risk associated with the use of external devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess pressure ulcer (PrU) treatment in Swiss hospitalized pediatric patients and to determine whether there are differences in PrU treatment, according to demographic characteristics of the patients., Design: A descriptive multicenter point prevalence study was conducted in June 2009 in all German-speaking pediatric hospitals in Switzerland., Setting: All hospitalized patients from birth up to 17 years or younger in 14 Swiss pediatric hospitals, including all pediatric departments, were assessed., Patients: A total of 412 patients participated in this study., Main Outcome Measures: The instrument and method of the Dutch National Prevalence Measurement of Care Problems were used., Main Results: Thirty-five percent of the patients had a PrU. Almost all of these PrUs (94.1%) were of category 1. The most severe PrUs occurred in patients older than 8 years. Age of the patient and department were the only characteristics that significantly influenced the occurrence of PrU categories 2 to 4. Pressure ulcer categories 2 to 4 were mostly covered with hydrocolloid or polyurethane foam dressings. No pediatric-specific guideline regarding PrU treatment is used in the involved hospitals., Conclusion: Most patients had category 1 PrUs, so appropriate prevention to decrease any further trauma in these patients was necessary. Severe PrUs (categories 2-4) are mostly limited to older pediatric (aged >8 years) patients with chronic conditions or after surgery intervention. A PrU treatment guideline adapted for pediatric needs is recommended.

Pressure ulcers (PUs) are a common concern for hospitalized children and adults, but knowledge about PU risk factors,prevalence, and incidence rates among children remains limited. To assess the prevalence of and risk factors for PUs in pediatric care settings, a 1-day cross-sectional study was conducted among all hospitalized children ages 0 to 18 years in all 14 pediatric hospitals in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Data collection involved a direct systematic inspection and assessment of the skin. A standardized data collection instrument was used, and each patient was assessed by a previously instructed rater pair. The total number of participating children was 412 (75% of all hospitalized children). An overall PU prevalence of 35% (including European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel category 1 ulcers) was observed. Most patients with PUs (80%) had category 1 ulcers. The prevalence rate was highest among patients in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) (16/36, 44%), followed by the department of neonatology (47/109, 43%). The presence of a PU was significantly higher among patients with a medical device, who were young (<1 year old), had a longer length of stay, and low Braden scale score (P <0.05). Rates also varied by institution (P <0.05). Department, patient age,Braden scale score, and institution explained 25% of the variance in PU prevalence. The prevalence of PUs in pediatric patients is higher than expected, and the rate of category 1 PUs suggests that interventions to prevent PUs are needed,especially in the high-risk patients identified. Future studies are needed to further assess these risk factors, especially for patients in PICUs.

In the past, various individual ANP-roles such as Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nurse Practitioner were developed in the USA and in several countries of Northern Europe. In Switzerland, the number of university-educated nurse specialists is still very limited. In order to promote sustainable progress in nursing practice despite of this background, Advanced Nursing Practice teams (ANP-teams) have continuously been established at Kinderspital Zurich for the last eight years. This approach has proven to be an excellent option especially in highly complex situations where targeted and adequate solutions for patients are a major issue. In this article, the structure of the ANP-teams is discussed, with the personnel mix as a key factor. Important supportive elements are a clear definition of tasks as well as an allocation of individual tasks to either clinical or conceptual groups. The ANP teams are highly motivated and goal-oriented, they integrate nurses with various backgrounds of experience or training whereby mutual learning is being encouraged.

Pressure ulcers are a common nursing care issue in hospitals. Sick children, premature infants and toddlers, but also disabled and impaired children are at a high risk of developing pressure ulcers. The aim of this descriptive cross-sectional study was to describe the patients at risk as well as to identify the preventive and therapeutic interventions in a pediatric care setting. Of 213 hospitalised children, 155 (82 percent) from the age of 0 to 18 years could be included in the study. Altogether, preventive actions of any kind were performed with 92 percent of the patients. These were repositioning (84 percent), mobilisation of the patients (75 percent), followed by skin inspection (61 percent) and the application of lotions (56 percent). The high risk rate of pediatric patients considered at risk according to the Braden Scale is disconcerting and requires further exploration in terms of effective preventive and therapeutic interventions to improve the outcome for this patient group.