Pressure ulcer awareness and prevention program: a quality improvement program through the Canadian Association of Wound Care.

The Canadian Association of Wound Care funded a study to determine the extent of pressure ulcers in Canada and discovered that the mean prevalence rate was 26%. Recognizing this as a significant health-related problem, the Canadian Association of Wound Care created a continuous quality improvement program known as the Pressure Ulcer Awareness and Prevention program to support a culture shift in healthcare settings, that is, shifting the emphasis on management from treatment of existing ulcers to their prevention. This program has been pilot tested, revised, and is being implemented in many Canadian healthcare facilities. The program is described and results are presented that demonstrate a reduction rate up to 57% (prevalence) and 71% (incidence).