Dressings and topical agents for preventing pressure ulcers

Area of Science:

• Wound Care
• Preventive Medicine
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Pressure ulcers develop from unrelieved pressure on bony prominences, significantly impacting patient quality of life.
• Existing preventive measures like dressings and topical agents lack clear evidence of effectiveness.
• This review is an updated analysis of interventions for pressure ulcer prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of dressings and topical agents in preventing pressure ulcers.
• The study included individuals of all ages at risk for pressure ulcers in various healthcare settings.
• The focus was on individuals without existing pressure ulcers.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive search of multiple databases and trial registers was conducted up to November 2022.
• Randomized controlled trials involving individuals at risk for pressure ulcers were included.
• Standard Cochrane methodological procedures were employed for data collection and analysis.

Main Results:

• Fifty-one trials involving 13,303 participants assessed dressings and topical agents.
• Evidence for dressings showed potential benefit for silicone foam versus no dressing (RR 0.50), but certainty was low to very low.
• For topical agents, evidence was very uncertain, with fatty acids versus usual care showing a possible reduction (RR 0.64), but with very low certainty.

Conclusions:

• The current evidence regarding the effectiveness of dressings and topical agents for pressure ulcer prevention is uncertain or very uncertain.
• It remains unclear if the studied interventions significantly impact the development of pressure ulcers.
• Future research should prioritize interventions based on stakeholder input to clarify effectiveness.