What is a Waterlow risk assessment tool?
The Waterlow Score is a medical assessment tool used to assess the risk of a bed-bound patient developing pressure sores (bedsores). The tool is widely used in accident and emergency departments, hospital wards, and residential nursing homes across the UK.
What is sensitivity specificity balance for Waterlow scale?
The Waterlow Scale offers a high sensitivity score (82.4%), but low specificity (27.4%); with a good risk prediction score (OR = 2.05, CI 95% = 1.11-3.76).
What scale is used for pressure injuries?
What is the Braden Scale? Briefly put, the Braden Scale is an evidenced-based tool, developed by Nancy Braden and Barbara Bergstrom, that predicts the risk for developing a hospital- or facility-acquired pressure ulcer or injury. The Braden Scale uses a scores from less than or equal to 9 to as high as 23.
How often should a Waterlow assessment be completed?
Risk assessment Waterlow reassessment will be repeated weekly or at each visit if seen 3 monthly/6 monthly/ annually or if they have deterioration in their condition or on hospital discharge. Risk assessment should support not replace clinical judgement.
What is the Waterlow score used for?
The Waterlow score (or Waterlow scale) gives an estimated risk for the development of a pressure sore in a given patient. The tool was developed in 1985 by clinical nurse teacher Judy Waterlow.
What is Braden score assessment?
The Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Ulcer Risk, is a tool that was developed in 1987 by Barbara Braden and Nancy Bergstrom. The purpose of the scale is to help health professionals, especially nurses, assess a patient’s risk of developing a pressure ulcer.
Is the Waterlow assessment tool reliable?
Research suggests that the Waterlow Scale is an unreliable method of assessing individuals at risk of pressure sore development with all studies indicating a poor interrater reliability status. Its validity has also been criticized because of its high-sensitivity but low-specificity levels.
How do you grade a pressure sore?
Pressure sores are graded to four levels, including:
- grade I – skin discolouration, usually red, blue, purple or black.
- grade II – some skin loss or damage involving the top-most skin layers.
- grade III – necrosis (death) or damage to the skin patch, limited to the skin layers.
Is the Waterlow pressure ulcer risk assessment scale reliable?
Conclusion Due to the limitations presented regarding the validity and reliability of the Waterlow pressure ulcer risk assessment scale, the scale should be used in conjunction with clinical assessment to provide optimum results. Keywords: Waterlow, Pressure ulcer, validity, reliability, risk assessment scale
How is Waterlow score used in risk assessment?
The Waterlow score is interpreted in the following way: ■ 20 and above: Patient is at very high risk. The recommendation is that the assessment results are recorded and monitored in time and that the score is not solely relied upon, clinical judgement having to come before any scoring, like with most risk assessment tools.
What should my Waterlow score be for my blood pressure?
Obtainable scores range between 0 and 49. The Waterlow score is interpreted in the following way: ■ 20 and above: Patient is at very high risk.
How is the Waterlow system used in care assessment?
Judy Waterlow has kindly given permission for CareDocs to use the Waterlow system as part of our Care Assessment process. It features specifically in the Skin Integrity assessment, where you can ask and enter the same information as required on the Score Card and we tally the values automatically.