Nursing interventions for the prevention of pressure ulcers in Intensive Care Units

Abstract

Pressure ulcers (PUs) are common complications in critically ill hospitalized patients, impairing their quality of life, prolonging hospital stays, and increasing healthcare costs. Objective: To analyze the available scientific evidence on the main “nursing interventions for the prevention of PUs in intensive care units.” Methodology: Systematic review, following the recommendations of the PRISMA 2020 guidelines; the search strategy focused on MeSH/DeCS terms, including the Boolean operators “AND, OR, NOT” in databases such as SciELO, PubMed, Redalyc, and Scopus, as well as other sources (open-access scientific journals: MQR Investigar, Polo del Conocimiento, Revista Cuidarte, Research, Society and Development). Articles in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, published between 2020 and 2025, were included. Results: Forty-nine publications were identified; after screening, 15 articles met the eligibility criteria and addressed the research question posed. Conclusions: To prevent PUs, nursing interventions based on scientific evidence and the implementation of institutional protocols must be carried out. In addition to the use of scales such as the Braden and Norton scales, periodic repositioning, monitoring of medical devices, silicone dressings, and the use of anti-decubitus mattresses, the need for training and ongoing evaluation of healthcare professionals is emphasized.