Pressure Ulcer Guide app

The Pressure Ulcer Guide app provides information about pressure ulcers and has tips on how to prevent them. The app has an inbuilt calculator to determine pressure ulcer risk based on the Braden score. The app has a free version and a paid upgrade. Overall the app has some useful information but is poorly designed and gives a substandard user experience, eg, there is little guidance on how to use the inbuilt calculator.

For the complete app description, go to Google Play(external link) or, for a more detailed review, see reviews below.

Clinical review

Reviewer: Jeremy Steinberg, GP, FRNZCGP
Date of review: January 2020
Platform: Android
Version: 1.3 
Comments: This app, last updated 5 years ago, provides generally accurate but non-comprehensive information about pressure ulcers and their prevention (but less so about treatment). The paid version provides images with better resolution and links to free YouTube videos (some of which are no longer working). The app also has an inbuilt calculator to determine pressure ulcer risk (Braden Score). However, it does not explain how to use the tool appropriately and, in fact, pressure ulcer risk assessment tools are no better than clinical judgement. One study concluded that resources are better spent on “careful daily skin inspection and improving management targeted at specific risks”.¹ 
Safety concerns: None.
New Zealand relevance: Relevant; no issues of concern.