Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39654012›Full record

ArticleJournal of clinical nursing2025

Nurses' Perspectives on the Use of Prophylactic Dressings to Prevent Pressure Injury: A Qualitative Study.

Jake McMahon, Elizabeth McInnes, Ching Shan Wan, Nicola Straiton, Louisa Lam, Jane Rodgers, Paul Fulbrook

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of clinical nursing, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Jake McMahonSchool of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-0105-8381
Elizabeth McInnesSt Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-0567-9679
Ching Shan WanNational Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Wiser Wound Care, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-3871-1118
Nicola StraitonNursing Research Institute, St Vincent's Health Network Sydney, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Australian Catholic University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-5013-0159
Louisa LamSchool of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-1439-0893
Jane RodgersNursing Research Institute, St Vincent's Health Network Sydney, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Australian Catholic University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Paul FulbrookSchool of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-6547-1861

Funding

St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne 96353
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimTo understand, from a nursing perspective, factors affecting the use of prophylactic dressings to prevent pressure injuries in acute hospitalised adults.

backgroundPressure injury causes harm to patients and incurs significant costs to health services. Significant emphasis is placed on their prevention. Relatively recently, prophylactic dressings have been promoted to reduce pressure injury development. However, in the acute care setting, information about the clinical use of these dressing is lacking.

designQualitative, descriptive.

methodsNineteen medical and surgical nurses participated. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was performed using an inductive approach using NVivo software.

resultsThree themes were identified, reflecting factors that influenced and perpetuated indiscriminate use of prophylactic dressings: False sense of security; Convenience and task prioritisation; and Navigating challenges in evidence-based pressure injury prevention.

conclusionsThe findings indicate inconsistent prevention practices, with prophylactic dressings often applied without justification or referral to research-based evidence to guide clinical decision-making. There was a prevailing attitude of 'job done' when a prophylactic dressing was applied. IMPACT: This study has identified several factors that perpetuate the inappropriate use of prophylactic dressings for pressure injury prevention that may be amenable to organisational change. The findings indicate that nurses often rely on these dressings as a shortcut due to time constraints, which led to missed skin assessments and low-value care. The research can be used to inform the development of clear guidelines on dressings within hospital settings which encourage assessment-based selection for their use, and process-based guidance for their application, skin surveillance, dressing inspection and removal. REPORTING

methodThe Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) reporting guideline was followed. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Neither patients nor the public were directly involved in this study.

Indexed as

Attitude of Health PersonnelBandagesNursing Staff, HospitalPressure UlcerAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative Researchacute carepressure injurypreventionprophylactic dressingqualitative

Identifiers

PMID39654012
PMCPMC12037934

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.