EPUAP Workshops

Workshop title:

The why, the how and the journey: our experience with Patient and Public partnerships for pressure sore prevention

Organizer: Hannah Wilson (Ireland)
Speakers: Declan Naughton, Joe Bowden, Diarmuid Corry, Damien Nee, Hannah Wilson, Aglecia Budri, Liane Teixeira, Sorcha Byrne, and Didi Moore

Date: 9th September 2026
Time: 10:50-12:00 AM
Location: Dodders Hall 5B

Description:

This interactive world café workshop explores the consequences of pressure sores through lived experience, highlights diverse approaches to patient and public involvement (PPI), and shares insights from our collaborative journey. Participants will deepen understanding of how partnerships between patients, their care partners, researchers, healthcare professionals, and industry can drive meaningful progress in pressure sore prevention.

Learning outcomes:

•  Recognise the consequences of pressure sores through lived experience stories
• Explore different ways of engaging diverse partners and learning from one another
• Understand why partnership matters across patients, their care partners, researchers, healthcare professionals, and industry
• Learn how collaborative models, such as the modified James Alliance approach, can advance pressure sore prevention

Organizers: Natalie McEvoy (Ireland), Pierre Yves Blanchard (France)

Date: 9th September 2026
Time: 15:10- 16:25 PM
Location: Dodders Hall 5B

Workshop description:

This interactive workshop, hosted  by the SAFE ICU COST Action group, will bring together clinicians, researchers, and stakeholders to advance a shared understanding of pressure ulcer prevention in intensive care settings. The session will focus on the tools and frameworks used for risk assessment, with particular attention to their consistency, availability, and applicability across different European contexts.
Participants will explore current data on the prevalence of pressure ulcers in ICU populations and discuss the variability observed between countries. Through collaborative discussion, the workshop will highlight key risk factors and examine the challenges associated with comparing data internationally. 
A central aim of the workshop is to support harmonisation efforts by emphasising the value of standardised approaches. Attendees will also contribute to identifying priority areas for future research, particularly in relation to underexplored associations between risk factors and pressure ulcer development.
The workshop will combine short presentations with interactive discussion, offering a platform for knowledge exchange and the development of shared research and clinical priorities across the SAFE ICU network.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Critically evaluate the range of risk assessment tools for pressure ulcers used in ICU settings
• Compare the availability and accessibility of these tools across different European languages and healthcare contexts
• Explain the importance of standardised tools for enabling international collaboration, benchmarking, and data comparability
• Examine variations in pressure ulcer prevalence across countries and healthcare systems
• Identify gaps in current evidence and prioritise key associations between risk factors and pressure ulcers that require further investigation in ICU settings

Organizers: Dominique Sigaudo Roussel (France), Natalie McEvoy (Ireland)

Date: 9th September 2026
Time: 17:00–18:15 PM
Location: Dodders Hall 5A

Organizers: Pete Worsley (UK) Aglecia Budri (Ireland)

Date: 10th September 2026
Time: 08:30–09:30 AM
Location: Exhibition area

This repositioning workshop provides a practical overview of key strategies for preventing pressure ulcers. It begins with a short introduction to core concepts, including bed and seated repositioning, guideline recommendations, and the impact of pressure, shear, and friction. Participants will then rotate through hands-on stations focused on repositioning in bed and sitting, enabling application of individualised techniques. The session also explores the role of posture, technology, and biofeedback in supporting self-management. A final Q&A allows for discussion and clarification of key principles.

Learning outcomes:

1. Understand the key principles of repositioning when sitting and lying.
2. Apply guideline-recommended, individualised repositioning strategies for at-risk individuals.
3. Exploring how posture effects interface pressure and strategies to minimise harmful loads.

The general structure of the workshop will be:

1. Short introduction (approx. 10 minutes)
   A brief overview of key repositioning concepts, including bed and seated strategies. This can include highlighting the newer guideline recommendations. Implications on pressure, shear and friction when moving an individual and the postures which can be adopted. We could also include the potential role of technology in monitoring posture and mobility, highlighting the importance of biofeedback to support self-management and personalised care.
2. Practical component (approx. 40 minutes)
   Two 20-minute rotating stations:

• Repositioning in bed (Aglécia Budri and Silvia Caggiari)
• Repositioning in sitting (Pete and Aylward-Wotton)

3. Final Q&A (approx. 10 minutes)

Organizer: Jan Kottner (Germany)
Speakers: Zena Moore, Pinar Avsar, Katrin Balzer, Jan Kottner

Date: 10th September 2026
Time: 11:20- 12:20
Location: Dodders Hall 5B

Brief description

For many years the EPUAP supports the development of the International Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries: Clinical Practice Guideline. Clinical practice guidelines provide recommendations to inform clinical decision making. However, to improve patient care and outcomes, guideline recommendations need to be implemented and practice must be changed. This workshop will discuss strategies and methods, how to translate guideline content into clinical practice.

Learning outcomes

After the workshop the attendees will be able to:

• explain, what a guideline recommendation is
• describe strategies and methods how guideline recommendations can be implemented
• name factors, that influence the behavior of clinicians

Organizer: Helen Strapp (Ireland)

Title: Enhancing Wound Healing: Wound Assessment & Dressing Options

Date: 10th September 2026
Time: 16:45–18:00 PM
Location: Dodders Hall 5B

Objectives:

• Understand comprehensive wound assessment. 
• Identify appropriate dressing types for various wound types 
• Apply knowledge through hands-on activities and case studies 

Interactive activity: 

• Divide participants into small groups 
• Provide each group with wound scenario cards 
• Groups assess the wound and present their findings 

Dressing Selection Principles  

•  Factors influencing dressing choice: wound type, exudate level, infection risk, patient comfort 
•  Present different case studies with patient histories and wound images 
•  Groups recommend assessment and dressing plan 
•  Group presentations and facilitator feedback 

Workshop title: Wound Debridement: Why and How

Organizers: Helen Strapp (Ireland), Steven Smet (Belgium)

Day: 11th September 2026
Time: 9:00- 10:15 AM
Location: Dodders Hall 5B

This interactive workshop explores the principles and practice of wound debridement. Participants will review indications, tissue types, and available techniques, and learn how to select appropriate methods for different wounds. Through guided practice, attendees will develop practical skills to perform safe, effective debridement and support optimal wound healing outcomes in clinical settings.