Fatores de risco e prevenção de lesão por pressão: aplicabilidade da Escala de Braden

Objective: To demonstrate the factors inherent to the development of pressure ulcer and recommendations for their prevention using the Braden Scale. Methods: This is a descriptive narrative bibliographical review, carried out through the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), the academic search engine Google Academic and the databases Biblioteca Virtual em Saude (BVS) and the Base de Dados de Enfermagem (BDEnf), using the descriptors "pressure ulcer", "risk measurement" and "nursing care". We selected 20 articles for discussion. Results: The understanding of the risk factors that favor the appearance of pressure ulcer is of great relevance, since they represent a setback that affects the patient physically and psychologically, thus delaying their recovery process. In order to assess the risk of developing pressure ulcer, nurses should routinely use, in addition to the Braden Scale, clinical evaluation and anamnesis, which facilitates the process of systematization of care through assessment, preparation of the nursing diagnosis, prescription and the evolution of Nursing. Conclusion: The use of the Braden Scale makes it possible to know the characteristics of patients who are assisted and, if applied correctly, to anticipate interventions aimed at preventing pressure injury. It is more satisfactory to prevent injury than to facilitate its installation in order to treat it later.