Pressure ulcers affect large numbers of people and result in considerable health system expenditure worldwide. Studies that examine pressure ulcer occurrence are of increasing interest in the drive to reduce the number of patients affected. However, quantifying pressure ulceration is complex and variations in the methods of collection and type of data collected, make valid study comparisons difficult. The consensus document ?Pressure Ulcer Prevention: prevalence and incidence in context? was developed by a group of international experts in pressure ulcer prevention and treatment and is aimed at all those involved in the field of pressure ulcers, including those that deliver healthcare, conduct research and develop policy.