Descriptive study of the use of a specialty bed in the United Kingdom

A survey of 788 patients on a specialty support surface, Pegasus Airwave System, in 119 hospitals or hospices in the United Kingdom during February and March 1991 provided the largest database on the current pattern of use of any pressure-relieving mattress. Fifty-four percent (n = 428) of the patients had established pressure ulcers. Seventy-nine percent (n = 261) of the patients on the specialty support surface for longer than five days showed visible signs of improvement. Nurses and patients expressed satisfaction with the support surface.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)