Evaluation of patient outcomes: pressure ulcer prevention mattresses

Area of Science:

• Medical Devices
• Nursing Care
• Wound Prevention

Background:

• Patients admitted as emergencies often have comorbidities, increasing their risk of pressure ulcer development.
• High-risk patients require specialized support surfaces to prevent pressure-related injuries.
• Existing pressure-relieving mattresses vary in efficacy, necessitating comparative evaluations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of the Dyna-Form Mercury Advance mattress against the Softform Premier Active mattress in preventing and managing pressure ulcers.
• To evaluate the performance of these support surfaces in a high-risk patient population.

Main Methods:

• A small evaluation audit was conducted with emergency admission patients at high risk of pressure ulcer development (indicated by median age and Waterlow score).
• Patients received consistent nursing care, including repositioning every 2-4 hours, on either the Dyna-Form Mercury Advance or Softform Premier Active mattress.
• Outcomes measured included the development of new pressure ulcers and the healing of pre-existing ones.

Main Results:

• Three patients on the Dyna-Form Mercury Advance mattress did not develop pressure ulcers.
• Two patients with pre-existing ulcers on the Dyna-Form Mercury Advance showed signs of healing within four days.
• Three patients on the Softform Premier Active mattress did not develop ulcers, while two did.

Conclusions:

• The Dyna-Form Mercury Advance mattress demonstrated potentially superior performance in pressure ulcer prevention and healing in this small cohort.
• While results are encouraging, the small sample size necessitates larger studies to confirm the efficacy of both pressure-relieving mattresses.