Annelies de Graaf

In the past 10 years, I have developed my advanced practice nurse role as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Wound Care, with a strong focus on pressure ulcer prevention, skin integrity and evidence-based clinical practice.

In recent years, my work has increasingly centred on improving how pressure ulcer risk is assessed and translated into personalised prevention strategies.

A major focus of my recent work is the development of the Belgian Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment Tool (BEPU©2025). Together with wound care specialists from different Belgian centres and the Skin Integrity Research Group at Ghent University, I have contributed to developing a Belgian approach to pressure ulcer risk assessment that supports a more dynamic, prevention-oriented clinical framework rather than relying solely on traditional risk scores.

The development of BEPU is closely aligned with the principles and recommendations of the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP), while addressing the specific needs of Belgian clinical practice. Through my involvement in the Belgian Wound Care Society (WCS België), I aim to contribute to national collaboration, standardisation and implementation of evidence-based pressure ulcer prevention.

My goal is to help bridge the gap between international recommendations, national and international guidance and everyday clinical practice, while promoting personalised prevention and active patient involvement. I am passionate about contributing to the EPUAP community and sharing experiences from Belgium to support continued improvement in pressure ulcer prevention internationally.