Development and validation of an ICU‐specific pressure injury risk assessment scale

Critically ill patients are at high risk for pressure injury (PI) due to critical illness combined with multiple interventions and therapies. It is hence important to gain more knowledge about the risk factors associated with pressure injury development and methods for decreasing its prevalence.To develop and validate a clinical useful ICU-specific PI risk assessment scale based on the RAPS.The study was designed as a prospective instrument development and validation study. The Risk Assessment Pressure Ulcer Scale (RAPS), which in Sweden is a commonly used PI risk assessment scale, was used as a starting point. Development was then performed in different steps; adaption of items and response options to ICU care, discussion with ICU staff members to enhance clinical relevance and usability, test of interrater reliability, revision of instrument, a new test with 300 patients followed by statistical evaluation.The final version of the RAPS-ICU consists of six items: failure of vital organs, mobility, moisture, sensory perception, level of consciousness and special treatment in the form of mechanical ventilation, continuous dialysis and/or inotropic drugs. A total score was reached by summing all responses. Each of the items was found to be significant associated with PI development as well as the total score (p < 0.001). The total score also showed a high interrater reliability (ICC = 0.96), good sensitivity and acceptable specificity with AUC = 0.71 and ICU staff perceived the RAPS-ICU as relevant and easy to use in clinical practice.The RAPS-ICU is a valid and clinically useful tool to identify patients at risk to develop pressure injury at ICU.