Research Action Awards 2022: Dr Michelle Barakat-Johnson

Dr Barakat-Johnson’s work addresses hospital-acquired pressure injuries – more commonly known as bedsores – which can have a major impact on patient health and wellbeing while also being largely preventable. Her team’s research, involving 1,500 clinicians and 1,600 patients, focused on one NSW local health district where the incidence of hospital-acquired pressure injuries had increased substantially.

Findings from her work guided the implementation of innovative, evidence-based approaches that reduced the number of hospital-acquired pressure injuries across the district by 51%. This success led to the creation of a state-wide pressure injury collaborative which provides clinicians with the guidance needed to develop effective, ward-based pressure injury prevention plans.