'Decubitus' guideline of the Dutch College of Family Practitioners: response from internal medicine
Haalboom, J.R.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 144(14): 645-646
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-2162 PMID: 10774290 Document Number: 516328
The guideline on pressure ulcers by the Dutch College of General Practitioners is good in the aspects of simplicity and giving very practical advice. It can be used as a guideline for prevention as well as treatment of pressure ulcers. Some aspects, however, are insufficiently dealt with. There is no summing up of the differences in anti-pressure ulcer devices such as mattresses and cushions. Use is made of the international classification of pressure ulcers in 4 stages, but also of a kind of rating in three colours (red-yellow-black), of which it is known that it underestimates the severity of pressure ulcers. There is an advice to use the knowledge of surgeons, dermatologists and nursing home doctors in difficult cases in the home care, where training and deployment of nurses specialised in this specific field might be preferable. Nevertheless, the guideline is well documented and useful in general practice.