# Engaging Patients and Providers in Identifying and Addressing Modifiable Risk Factors to Prevent Community-Acquired Ulcers in Veterans with SCI

> **NIH VA I01** · EDWARD HINES JR VA HOSPITAL · 2020 · —

## Abstract

The objective of this study is to identify and begin to address the challenges of preventing community-
acquired pressure ulcer (CAPrUs) in individuals living with spinal cord injury (SCI) by exploring patient,
caregiver, and provider perceived risk factors. We will explore Veteran and caregiver perceptions of CAPrU
risk factors using participatory action research [PAR] (photovoice, guided tour) methods and provider
perspectives with individual interviews. We will compare SCI providers' perceptions of CAPrU risk factors with
those of Veterans and caregivers. We will conduct a Delphi panel with expert panel members to develop, and
pilot a risk assessment checklist tool for CAPrUs in an SCI outpatient clinic.
 Our current health care system is fragmented and well-established HAPrU prevention strategies have
not been defined, translated, expanded on or adapted to the outpatient setting, nor have actions and community
resources been identified to support ulcer prevention activities in the community. Our study rationale builds on
the same logic underlying the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations1 and the IOM
report, “To Err Is Human” promote developing evidence-based decision support tools to foster meaningful
patient-centered productive interactions,2,3 Productive interactions in preventing CAPrUs begin by engaging
patient and provider in identifying modifiable risk factors, actions and resources. The proposed checklist is the
means for identifying CAPrU risks, actions and resources to stimulate prevention activities in the community.
Aims 1 & 2 focus on ensuring the checklist is patient-centered, addresses gaps between the patient and
provider perspectives, and is practical and relevant for the community setting. Aim 3 will evaluate whether
integrating the checklist into SCI outpatient encounters increases the provision/receipt of CAPrU preventive care
and its' impact on new CAPrUs. Our proposed CAPrU checklist is the bridge for patient-provider mutual goal
setting in the clinic and for driving prevention activities in the community.
 We will identify actions and resources needed to operationalize the existing PrU prevention guidelines
to community/home settings by: 1) identifying and comparing stakeholder (patient, caregiver, provider) mental
models of the challenges in addressing CAPrU risk factors, 2) convening an expert panel of stakeholders (e.g.,
Veterans, caregivers, providers, and national PrU prevention experts) to develop and validate a risk factor
checklist tool that includes specific actions and resources needed to prevent CAPrUs, and 3) evaluating the
risk factor checklist tool in an outpatient SCI clinic to determine the feasibility, acceptability, efficacy and
integration into work/patient flow in an SCI outpatient clinic.
 Guided by the USPSTF recommendations and the Wagner Chronic Care Model for improving
management of complex chronic conditions, we will create a risk assessment decision support tool to ident...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9927900
- **Project number:** 5I01HX002329-03
- **Recipient organization:** EDWARD HINES JR VA HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Elizabeth Burkhart
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-01 → 2022-12-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9927900

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9927900, Engaging Patients and Providers in Identifying and Addressing Modifiable Risk Factors to Prevent Community-Acquired Ulcers in Veterans with SCI (5I01HX002329-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9927900. Licensed CC0.

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