Skin Tears Risk and Prevalence Associated to Nursing Interventions: A Systematic Review

This review examines the factors affecting the risk of skin tears and the prevalence of skin tears associated with nursing interventions in long-term care services.

Data sources included MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Web of Science, and Cochrane databases. This research included 9 studies evaluating the prevalence of skin tears and risk factors published from 2018 to 2023.

Literature indicates that the prevalence of skin tears varies between 2.23% and 92% depending on the care setting. Discrepancies in prevalence rates were linked to differences in patient populations, wound classification methods, and healthcare practices. Risk factors included age, fragile skin, malnutrition, dehydration, balance disorders, and external causes like falls and adhesive dressings. It has been determined that skin tears, which occur due to internal factors such as changes in the epidermis and dermis or age-related comorbidities, and external factors such as hydration status, bath frequency, and use of medical adhesive products, have a higher prevalence, especially in the aging population.

In line with the results obtained from the studies examined, it is seen that many variables determined among the factors affecting the risk of skin tear are included in the framework of nursing care practices, and therefore, the needs and interventions determined by nurses in patient care have a very important place in ensuring and protecting skin integrity.