PREVENTION OF PRESSURE INJURIES IN BEDRIDDEN PATIENTS: CHALLENGES IN HEALTH CARE

Abstract

Pressure injury (PI) is a frequent adverse event in bedridden patients, especially in intensive care units and home care, leading to increased morbidity, prolonged hospitalization and higher care costs. This study aimed to analyze prevention strategies for pressure injuries in bedridden patients, highlighting the role of Nursing in patient safety. This is an integrative literature review with a qualitative and descriptive approach, conducted in SciELO, PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus databases. Twenty-four articles published between 2021 and 2025 were selected using the PICO strategy and the descriptors “Pressure Injury”, “Nursing Care” and “Prevention”. The results showed that the main preventive strategies include risk assessment with the Braden Scale, repositioning every two hours, skin integrity inspection and care, use of pressure-relief surfaces, and education of family members/caregivers. The most cited risk factors were immobility, advanced age, malnutrition, comorbidities and team overload. It is concluded that Nursing plays a central role in PI prevention, and the implementation of institutional protocols, continuous training and systematization of care are essential to reduce the incidence of these injuries and promote quality of life for bedridden patients.