The Expert Working Group who put the document together comes from a variety of countries from across the world. They are a mixture of nurses, doctors and bioengineers, all with a special interest in pressure ulcers. Some have considerable practical experience which is reflected in the text. The authors have also been able to take advantage of information in the International Pressure Ulcer Guidelines recently published by the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel and National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel.

Dr Carol Dealey PhD MA BSc (Hons) RN RCNT
University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust,
University of Birmingham
Carol Dealey is Senior Research Fellow at University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK
and University of Birmingham, UK.
Carol has worked and researched in the field of Tissue Viability for over 20 years and was one of the first Clinical Nurse Specialists in Tissue Viability (1987-97). Carol has undertaken a considerable body of research in the subject and has presented at national and international conferences as well as having numerous publications. The 4th edition of her textbook the Care of Wounds is in preparation.
She is Immediate Past President of the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel and was one of their representatives on a joint working party with the USA National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel to develop international pressure ulcer guidelines. She was President of the European Wound Management Association 1993/4 and is currently a Council member. She was also Chairman of the Tissue Viability Society from 1996-98. Carol is Editor of the EWMA Journal and on the editorial boards of the Journal of Tissue Viability and International Wound Journal.

This paper will discuss implementation of the information provided in the document into everyday practice. For example, repositioning and the use of pressure redistributing devices are widely used across Europe for the prevention of pressure ulcers. The link between the theoretical information on pressure and the practical application in practice will be discussed for these strategies and for others used in the document. 

New insights in pressure ulcer prevention:

Pressure, Shear, Friction and Microclimate in context

The overall goal of clinical practice is to restore or maintain health. Iatrogenic injuries, such as pressure ulcers, sometimes occur. Inappropriate care methods often remain in practice long after evidence has shown them to be harmful or ineffective. Education is critical in ensuring that all members of a clinical team act to prevent pressure ulcers according to the best evidence available.

Pressure has long been viewed as the most important extrinsic factor in pressure ulcer development. However, recent and ongoing research is revealing that shear, friction and microclimate also have important roles. For example, pressure and shear are closely linked, friction has a role in the development of shear, and microclimate influences the susceptibility of skin and soft tissues to the effects of pressure, shear and friction.
In addition to a direct effect, pressure also acts indirectly through the generation of shear stresses to produce pressure ulcers.

Clinical recommendations from the recent NPUAP and EPUAP guidelines that particularly relate to shear, friction and microclimate are reviewed in practice steps.
This scientific symposium will focus on new insight in pressure ulcer prevention and translate these in practice. But clinical judgement is always required for all who have the knowledge, skills and understanding to implement these new insights in their daily practice for effective and safe use.
Best clinical practice begins with identification of those at risk and ends with an evaluation of the impact, ie the effect on incidence and prevalence of pressure ulcers. 

Speakers: 

Michael Clark PhD
Welsh Wound Network
Cardiff, UK
Roles & memberships
Cardiff University
Cardiff University School of Medicine
Department of Dermatology & Wound Healing
Senior Research Fellow

Dr. Maarten Lubbers
Surgeon – intensivist
AMC – UvA, Amsterdam, Holland
1981: Surgeon
University of Amsterdam, Holland
1983: Chief Surgical Intensive Care Unit
University of Amsterdam, Holland
1983 - now: Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam
2007 also: Chief Hyperbaric Oxygen Unit AMC
Main interests:

- inflammation
- wounds
- transplantation
- infection
- sepsis
- MOF
Wounds: Healing, infection, dressings, tissue engineering;
antiseptics, evidence, health economics, guidelines.

Member

- ESCMID
- EPUAP
- EWMA
- ETRS
Author - more than 100 papers
- co-author several books
Lectures - more than 300

An international group of experts, who produced a consensus document on measuring the prevalence and incidence of pressure ulcers in 2009, recognised the need for an educational resource that takes a fresh approach to the extrinsic factors involved in pressure ulceration. The resultant consensus document – Pressure ulcer prevention: pressure, shear, friction and microclimate in context – consists of three papers: Pressure in context, Shear and friction in context, and Microclimate in context.

Each paper clearly defines and explains the science behind the extrinsic factor under examination and clarifies the synergistic links that exist between the factors. The papers build on the basic science to describe how the extrinsic factors contribute to pressure ulcer development, and discuss the types of and rationale for relevant clinical interventions that aim to prevent or ameliorate the effects of the extrinsic factor.

Biography speaker:

Prof. Keith Harding
Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
Professor Keith Harding is currenty a Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine (Wound Healing) and the Director of the Wound Healing Research Unit at the University of Wales, College of Medicine.
He has worked in clinical research in Cardiff, and spent many years in General Practice. He has a long-standing interest in wound healing and has provided clinical supervision of a part-time outpatient clinic.
He also has a long-standing interest in continuing medical education and has acted in various capacities including GP CME Tutor for Wales and Postraduate Organiser for the University Hospital of Wales, as well as establishing further education courses in wound healing.
He is a member of the Royal College of Genral Practitioners and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, England.
Research interests include inflammatory cells in wound healing, aspects of measurement, the diabetic foot and quality of life evaluation.