Development of a clinical practice guideline on pressure ulcers in people with spinal cord injuries inspired by the ADAPTE method

Study design: Guideline adaptation study using the ADAPTE method. Objective: The aim of this study was the development and validation of a Danish clinical practice guideline for PU/PI prevention and treatment for people with SCI through adaptation of existing guidelines. Methods: The ADAPTE method is a systematic framework used to adapt existing clinical practice guidelines to a new context, such as a different healthcare setting or population. This method ensures that the adapted guidelines are relevant, evidence-based, and practical for the specific context in which they will be implemented. Setting: Relevant stakeholders and treatment units within the Danish healthcare system involved in the rehabilitation, treatment, and care of people with SCI. Results: The adaptation yielded 22 topics and 121 recommendations, which underwent external review. Stakeholders gave positive feedback and qualified the recommendations. However, they also highlighted challenges in implementation due to the complexity of PU/PI prevention and treatment and organizational issues within the Danish healthcare system. Conclusions: This study has resulted in the development of a comprehensive Danish clinical practice guideline tailored specifically for the prevention and treatment of PU/PI among people with SCI within the Danish healthcare system. The external review emphasizes the imperative for continuous research aimed at strengthening evidence-based approaches to both prevention and treatment. Furthermore, it highlights the necessity for systematic dissemination strategies to facilitate the integration of the guideline into clinical practice.