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Measuring Pressure Redistribution Properties of 4 Hospital Bed Surfaces: A Quality Improvement Project
Oleg Teleten1, Tatyana S Polyak1, Jessica Espinoza2
1Patient Care Services, University of California, Davis.
Background:
Pressure ulcers/injuries are not only prevalent in the long-term care facilities but also in the acute care setting. Pressure ulcer development has many contributing factors, including prolonged high surface interface pressure between the skin and mattress surface.
Purpose:
The purpose of this quality improvement project was to measure the pressure redistribution properties of 4 hospital surfaces.
Methods:
Pressure measurements were performed on 8 participants lying on 1) standard mattress; 2) standard mattress with a static, air-filled bed overlay placed on top of it; 3) mattress with pulsing technology; and 4) mattress with immersing technology. Participants were volunteers measured while lying in the supine position and, in one instance, in the prone position. Pressures were measured with a full-body interface pressure mapping system.
Results:
Of the 4 surfaces evaluated, the surface that provided the most effective pressure redistribution properties was the combination of the standard viscoelastic mattress with the static, air-filled overlay.
Conclusion:
These results can help guide surface choice for providing the best pressure redistribution properties in order to help prevent pressure ulcers/injuries.
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