Preventing Pressure Injuries in Nursing Home Residents Using a Low-Profile Alternating Pressure Overlay: A Point-of-Care Trial

BACKGROUND
Pressure injuries (PIs) are a significant concern for patients with very limited mobility in skilled nursing facilities. Conflicting clinical guidelines and a lack of effectiveness data for the various support surfaces reduces the efficacy of PI prevention programs.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the preventive effectiveness (incidence of facility-acquired PIs) of a low-profile alternating pressure (AP) support surface plus facility-specific PI prevention programs in patients at high risk for PI.
DESIGN AND SETTING
Prospective, multicenter, point-of-care observational study in two for-profit nursing homes in the northeastern US.
PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION
A retrospective review of 101 residents was performed to determine baseline PI incidence. Then, a consecutive sample of 25 participants was selected based on the following eligibility criteria: high risk for PI, bedbound (20 hours or more per day), and stay in a mechanical ventilation unit for more than 5 days. The participants were placed on an AP overlay positioned above a facility-provided nonpowered reactive support surface.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
The development of any new PI (stage 1-4), deep-tissue injury, or unstageable PI in participants using the AP overlay. The PI incidence for the AP group was compared with the retrospective baseline PI incidence from the same units in the two nursing homes.
MAIN RESULTS
The group using the AP overlay had a significantly lower PI incidence (0/25, 0%) compared with b...

Source: Advances in Skin and Wound Care - September 17, 2020 Category: Dermatology Tags: ORIGINAL INVESTIGATIONS Source Type: research