pressure induced injury/ulcer

Q: As per the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) system, which term is preferred for pressure-induced skin and soft tissue injuries? - select one

A) "pressure injury" 

B) "pressure ulcer" 

Answer: A

This question aims to help students understand the importance of nomenclature in medical science.

Pressure-induced skin and soft tissue injuries are common in hospitals and have been considered a marker of poor patient safety and healthcare quality in any given institution. 

The NPIAP system prefers the term "pressure injury" instead of "pressure ulcer" because lesser degrees of skin damage due to pressure may not be associated with skin ulceration, which is considered stage 1. Additionally, deep tissue pressure injury can occur without overlying skin ulceration.

#dermatology

#healthcare-quality

#patient-safety

Reference:

National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel. NPIAP Pressure Injury Stages. Available at: https://npiap.com/ (Accessed on August 29, 2025).