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Pressure Ulcer Guide app

An app about pressure ulcers and their prevention, with a tool to calculate pressure ulcer risk.

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Pressure Ulcer Guide app	By Patient Data Science
	Features Information and education. Pressure ulcer risk calculator.
Clinical review	Read a clinical review below.
Security and privacy	Does the app: Collect medical information? No Require a login? No Have password protection? No Have a privacy policy? No Require internet access to use? No Read more about safety and security when using apps. Brochures: Tips to improve your privacy and security [PDF, 65 KB] Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ Staying safe online(external link) Netsafe, NZ
Cost	Free (basic); paid (upgrade) Learn more about app charges(external link)
How to get the app	(external link)

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.

PROS	CONS
✔ Generally accurate information about pressure ulcers and their prevention. ✔ Inbuilt pressure ulcer risk calculator (Braden Score) but no information about how to use it appropriately. ✔ The paid version has links to YouTube videos on the topic of pressure ulcers, eg, a series by Dr John Campbell(external link)(external link).	✘ The information provided is not comprehensive. ✘ Last updated 5 years ago. ✘ Frequent grammatical errors. ✘ Some of the links to YouTube videos in the paid version no longer work. ✘ The information is generally geared towards prevention rather than treatment of pressure ulcers.

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.

Consumer guide: how to choose a health app
Clinicians guide: how to choose a health app
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Pressure sores

References

Webster J, Coleman K, Mudge A, et al. Pressure ulcers: effectiveness of risk-assessment tools. A randomised controlled trial (the ULCER trial)(external link)(external link) BMJ Quality & Safety 2011;20:297-306.

Disclaimer: The NZ Health App Library is a free consumer service to help you decide whether a health app would be suitable for you. Our review process is independent. We have no relationship with the app developers or companies and no responsibility for the service they provide. This means that if you have an issue with one of the apps we have reviewed, you will need to contact the app developer or company directly.

Factsheets – using health apps safely

How to choose a health app
Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ

Privacy and security tips for using health apps
Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ

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Pressure Ulcer Guide app