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Partnership gives research voice to pressure ulcer patients

Posted on 15 September 2010

A new £1.75 million research project aims to give patients a voice in the search to find the most effective treatment for pressure ulcers.

Launched by the National Institute for Health Research, the Wounds Research for Patient Benefit (WRPB) Programme involves clinicians at NHS Leeds Community Healthcare and health scientists at the University of York.

We are working with the James Lind Alliance to identify research priorities in the prevention and management of pressure ulcers, before moving on to replicate the process in other wounds areas

Professor Nicky Cullum


They are working with The James Lind Alliance to seek partners among patients, carers and clinicians as well as groups representing them. The James Lind Alliance Pressure Ulcer Partnership (JLAPUP) will help researchers to study the treatment and prevention of pressure ulcers to improve the understanding and care of patients.

Pressure ulcers – pressure sores or bed sores – are hard-to-heal wounds that are painful for patients and distressing for both them and their carers. A wide range of interventions is available for pressure ulcer treatment and management, but evidence of their effectiveness remains limited.

Professor Nicky Cullum, of the University of York's Department of Health Sciences, said: "The WRPB programme is committed to ensuring that its research makes a real difference to patients, carers and the NHS. Public involvement in and awareness of wounds research at present is minimal. So we are working with the James Lind Alliance to identify research priorities in the prevention and management of pressure ulcers, before moving on to replicate the process in other wounds areas."

Nikki Stubbs, the clinical team leader of the Leeds tissue viability service said: "This partnership will work hard to reach people with or at risk of pressure ulcers – people whose voices are frequently not heard in research."

The James Lind Alliance (JLA) was established in 2004 to bring patients and clinicians together to identify questions about treatment effectiveness. JLA argues that research can sometimes fail to recognise the uncertainties and requirements of patients or those caring for or treating them.

Though there are no patient-led groups specifically representing the interests of people with (or at risk of) pressure ulcers, many other groups include people affected by pressure ulcers. These and allied clinician and carer groups are being invited to join JLAPUP. Anyone interested can find out more at: www.jlapressureulcerpartnership.co.uk

Further information is also available from Mary Madden, Research Fellow WRPB on 01904 321717 or mm538@york.ac.uk

Notes to editors:

  • The James Lind Alliance Pressure Ulcer Partnership (JLAPUP) is a newly forming partnership of organisations representing patients, carers and clinicians. Its aim is for patients, carers and clinicians to work together to:
    • identify important areas where further research is needed to improve care;
    • assemble and publish these in the Database of Uncertainties about the Effects of Treatments (DUETS);
    • decide which of these research questions are most important.
  • A list of the most important research questions will then be published and provided to organisations that fund research about pressure ulcer treatment and prevention.
  • More information is available at: www.jlapressureulcerpartnership.co.uk
  • The James Lind Alliance is supported by the Medical Research Council and the National Institute of Health Research. More information about the James Lind Alliance, DUETS and is available at www.lindalliance.org and www.duets.nhs.uk
  • The Department of Health Sciences at the University of York is large and multidisciplinary, offering a broad range of taught and research programmes in the health and social care field, including nurse education (for which it was ranked the top department in the country for nursing education, by the 2011 Times Good University Guide). It aims to develop the role of scientific evidence in health and healthcare through high quality research, teaching and other forms of dissemination. In the recent national assessment of research quality, the University was rated equal first for its Health Services Research and fourth for its Nursing and Midwifery research.
  • NHS Leeds Community Healthcare is responsible for providing healthcare services in the Leeds area. This includes the Leeds tissue viability service which is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the UK. NHS Leeds Community Healthcare is hosted by Leeds Primary Care Trust (NHS Leeds).