Abstract

The development of hospital-sourced pressure sores is a health problem that is frequently observed in bedridden patients, that lengthens the period of remaining in the hospital, that increases mortality and that raises the expenditures of treatment. Risk assessments are the first step in the prevention of pressure sores. The incidence of pressure sores can be decreased to a significant extent with risk assessments, suitable diagnosis in the early period and preventive nursing initiatives. The use of tools that define the risk of developing pressure sores have started to acquire importance in the prevention of pressure sores. It is possible to see risk assessment scales in the literature such as Braden, Norton, Knoll, Gosnell and Waterlow. For increasing the quality of patient care and for constituting a care standard, reliable and valid risk assessment scales should used. It was aimed in this compilation to share the risk assessment scales used in the assessment of pressure sores, the areas of use of the scales and the validity and reliability of the scales.