Approaches to patient and family education for pressure ulcer management.

The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) guidelines for pain management, urinary incontinence, and pressure ulcers emphasize the importance of patient and family education. Patient teaching strategies are discussed by using the example of pressure ulcer management. The family is invited into an educational partnership through needs assessment and mutual goal setting. Teaching strategies that involve the learner and are adapted for the home setting are most effective. Evaluation of teaching should be in terms of patient outcomes.