Pressure Ulcer Risk Reduction Tool for Out Patients after Spinal Injurues

压力性溃疡对英国国民医疗服务体系来说是一个大问题，英国每年有41.2万人可能患上压力性溃疡。NHS每年的治疗费用估计在14亿到21亿英镑之间，其中大部分是护士的时间。这还不包括手术干预的费用。(1)这些溃疡是由于身体有骨质突出的部位持续受到压力引起的；脊髓损伤患者由于缺乏活动能力和感觉，风险增加。英国在该领域领先的研究慈善机构“脊柱研究”（Spinal Research）记录称，英国每年约有1000人遭受脊髓损伤；他们主要是年轻人，其中80%是男性。我们的项目通过提供一种诊断工具来解决这个问题，这种工具将被“处方”给脊髓损伤门诊患者，使他们能够拍摄皮肤的照片记录，以识别有感染风险的区域。然后，这些图像可以用来触发预防措施的建议，以帮助降低溃疡的风险，通过移动应用程序发送。应用程序将包含减轻压力性溃疡风险的结构化建议，还将收集溃疡发展的匿名证据库，以供进一步研究，以开发改进的建议和技术，以进一步降低风险。考虑到顾问的工作流程需求，将在稍后阶段开发向顾问提供的数据，以帮助其无缝融合到他们当前的实践中，并提高解决方案的有效性和效率。该项目包括软件解决方案、诊断过程、知识传播工具、服务提供改进和分析当前程序有效性的方法。首先，我们需要评估一个应用程序对患者来说是否会是一个有效的传递机制。(1)Bennett G. Dealey C. Posnett J.英国压疮的费用。《年龄与老龄化》2004年第33卷

Pressure ulcers are a huge problem for the NHS with 412,000 people in the UK likely todevelop a pressure ulcer annually. The cost to the NHS of treatment is estimated at between£1.4 and 2.1 billion pa, most of which is nurse time. This excludes the cost of surgicalintervention(1)These ulcers are caused by continued pressure on a part of the body where there is a bonyprominence; spinal cord injury patients are at increased risk due to their lack of mobility andsensation.Spinal Research, the UK’s leading research charity in this field, documents that around 1000people in the UK suffer a spinal cord injury annually; they are primarily young adults, 80% ofwhich are male.Our project addresses this issue by providing a diagnostic tool in an environment where onedoes not exist, which will be “prescribed” to spinal cord injury outpatients enabling them totake a photographic record of their skin to identify areas that are at risk of infection. Theseimages can then be used to trigger advice on preventative measures to help reduce the risk ofulcers, delivered via a mobile app.The app will contain structured advice on mitigating the risk of pressure ulcers and alsoaggregates a repository of anonymous evidence of ulcer development for further research todevelop improved advice and techniques to reduce the risk still further.The delivery of data to consultants will be developed at a later stage taking into account theworkflow needs of the consultants to help it seamlessly merge into their current practices andimprove the effectiveness and efficiency of the solution.The project encompasses a software solution, a diagnostic process, a knowledgedissemination tool, service delivery improvement and a method for analysing effectiveness ofcurrent procedures. Initially we need to assess whether an app would be an effective deliverymechanism for the patient.(1)Bennett G. Dealey C. Posnett J. The cost of pressure ulcers in the UK. Age and Ageing vol.33 2004