Related Experiment Videos
The limits of pressure sore prevention
1School of Nursing, Oita Medical University, Japan.
Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine
|March 7, 2000
Summary
Even with intensive preventive care, some pressure sores are unavoidable in high-risk, severely ill patients. This study found a 4.4% incidence rate, suggesting a limit to prevention efforts.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Medicine
- Nursing Research
Background:
- Pressure sores (also known as bedsores or pressure ulcers) are a significant concern in hospitalized patients, particularly those with limited mobility or severe illness.
- Effective prevention strategies are crucial to reduce patient morbidity and healthcare costs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence and incidence of pressure sores in an internal medicine ward.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the Braden scale in identifying patients at risk and the impact of intensive preventive care.
Main Methods:
- A 12-month prospective study involving 275 internal medicine patients.
- Utilized the Braden scale to assess pressure sore risk; patients scoring 16 or less received intensive preventive care.
Main Results:
- Overall pressure sore prevalence was 5.1% and incidence was 4.4%.
- No pressure sores developed in patients assessed as not being at risk (n=239).
- Despite intensive care, 12 out of 36 high-risk patients developed pressure sores.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that not all pressure sores are preventable, especially in severely ill patients.
- The observed 4.4% incidence rate may represent the current limit of effective prevention strategies for pressure ulcers.