Study: Patients with darker skin tones more likely to get pressure injuries

A Nursing Outlook study found an association between patients with darker skin and a higher incidence of and more severe pressure injuries than individuals with lighter skin. The authors say the study is the first to use an objective-skin-tone measure to assess a large patient sample across health care settings. Based on an international sample of 55,658 patients assessed using the Monk Skin Tone Scale, the researchers found medium-dark skin tone was associated with up to four times the risk of more severe injury. The authors say nurse leaders should integrate diverse skin tones into research, education and practice to bridge equity gaps. Academic and practice settings should ensure didactic and experiential activities include diverse skin tones and competencies for dark skin tone assessment. (Nursing Outlook article, 9/10/25)