Skin Breakdown
The Silent Epidemic

Skin Breakdown

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2004 Doctoral Nursing Research Studentship winner

Mark Collier, Lead Nurse, Tissue Viability - Pilgrim Hospital, Boston

Mark Collier

Research Project: To investigate if calculation of a patient's Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI) using Hand Held Doppler Ultrasound as part of the assessment process can be used to predict patients at risk of heel pressure ulcer development

Mark's research will investigate if the 'routine' use of hand held Doppler equipment to calculate the Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI) of patients being admitted to acute orthopaedic wards within the National Health service can assist with the identification of those patients most likely at risk of developing heel pressure ulcers.

The problem of patients developing pressure ulcers on the heels whilst in hospital has gradually increased during the past decade for a variety of reasons, with the result that a patient's quality of life if often reported to be adversley affected by the same. Prevention, or at least a reduction in the incidence of heel pressure ulcers, would not only be beneficial to patients, but also to the healthcare system in which they are cared for, as the management of this problem has been shown to be very expensive in terms of extra resources utilised (both human and financial). In short, it is anticipated that this research study will affect healthcare practice not only locally and nationally, but also internationally.

Mark is undertaking his PhD at the Thames Valley University, London.

Any questions? Email Mark Collier.