Authors (including presenting author) :
Choi KY, Poon WK, Cheung NL, Chan WC, Lau M
Affiliation :
Occupational Therapy Department, Shatin Hospital
Keyword 1: :
Pressure injury
Keyword 2: :
Caregiver training
Keyword 3: :
Palliative care
Keyword 4: :
Occupational Therapy
Introduction :
Pressure injury (PI) is common in patients under palliative care due to their fragility, reduced mobility and nutrition, significantly lower their quality of life. Caregivers play a cruel role in preventing and managing these injuries. However with lack of knowledge and skills, especially in case of rapid deterioration, carers may fail to identify the problem, delaying treatment and creating greater suffering to patients. To promote a more structural education on PI with greater convenience, saving time to travel and leaving more time for providing care, a package with a series of educational videos was devised and delivered thru tele-rehab to caregivers under palliative care.
Objectives :
To enhance caregivers' knowledge and confidence in caring palliative patients with pressure injury
Methodology :
This pilot program was conducted in Shatin Hospital and Bradbury Hospice palliative in-patient and day-patient services from April to August 2025. Caregivers of cancer patients with existing PI were invited to join a five-session tele-education series covering (1) PI introduction, (2) prevention, (3) management, (4) proper seating and pressure-relieving exercises, and (5) bed positioning and use of hospital bed. Caregiver outcomes were measured pre- and post-program using the Chinese version of the Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Assessment Tool (PUKAT 2.0) and a 10-point Likert scale on confidence in PI care. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to examine changes.
Result & Outcome :
Nine caregivers were recruited during May to August 2025. There was a statistically significant improvement in PI knowledge scores after the educational package (PUKAT 2.0, Z = -2.44, p < 0.02). Caregivers’ confidence in caring for patients with PI also improved significantly (confidence Likert scale, Z = -2.39, p < 0.02).
