Effectiveness of the best practice spotlight organizations program to reduce the prevalence of pressure injuries in acute care settings for hospitalized patients in Spain: a quasi-experimental study

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Background: Pressure injuries are a major public health problem because of their impact on morbidity and mortality, quality of life, and increased healthcare costs. The Centros Comprometidos con la Excelencia en Cuidados/Best Practice Spotlight Organization (CCEC/BPSO®) program provides guidelines that can improve these outcomes. Aims: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the CCEC/BPSO® program in improving the care of patients at risk of pressure injury (PI) at an acute care hospital in Spain. Methods: A quasi-experimental regression discontinuity design in three periods was used: (1) baseline (2014), (2) implementation (2015–2017), and (3) sustainability (2018–2019). The study population was comprised of 6377 patients discharged from 22 units of an acute care hospital. The performance of the PI risk assessment and reassessment, the application of special pressure management surfaces, and the presence of PIs were all monitored. Results: Forty-four percent of patients (n = 2086) met the inclusion criteria. After implementing the program, the number of patients assessed (53.9%–79.5%), reassessed (4.9%–37.5%), the application of preventive measures (19.6%–79.7%), and the number of people identified with a PI in implementation (1.47%–8.44%) and sustainability (1.47%–8.8%) all increased. Linking Evidence to Action: The implementation of the CCEC/BPSO® program achieved improved patient safety. Risk assessment monitoring, risk reassessment, and special pressure management surfaces were practices that increased during the study period and were incorporated by professionals to prevent PIs. The training of professionals was instrumental to this process. Incorporating these programs is a strategic line to improve clinical safety and the quality of care. The implementation of the program has been effective in terms of improving the identification of patients at risk and the application of surfaces.

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