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Purposes: To determine differences in patient outcomes associated with pressure ulcers when using two types of mattresses.
To determine the incidence of pressure ulcers and healing rates of Stage I – III pressure ulcers when using both types of mattresses.
Significance: Pressure ulcers remain a significant issue for patients admitted to the acute care hospital. Despite initiatives to reduce pressure ulcers, 2005 data from the International Pressure Ulcer Prevalence Program shows only a small decrease in overall prevalence rates from preceding years with overall prevalence at approximately 14% to 15% in the acute care setting.
Methods: A prospective cohort study was completed at a 540 bed acute care facility located in Miami, Florida to compare Braden scores and the incidence of pressure ulcers among a convenience sample of 99 surgical patients who used 2 different types of mattresses. All enrolled patients were tracked daily on all study beds. Data collection included demographics, mattress type, Braden Pressure Ulcer Risk Scale, presence of pressure ulcers, co-morbidities, and specified laboratory values.
Results: The results suggest that only the black race (β = -.225; p = .03), days of bed confinement (β = -.257; p = .016), and bed mattress type (β = .257; p = .013) were independently associated with skin integrity. Of 97 participants three patients were documented to have pressure ulcers; two patients had pressure ulcers on admission that remained unchanged and one patient developed a pressure ulcer on their right hip (stage 2).
Discussion: The study results demonstrate that the demographic and therapeutic characteristics of both groups were not different. A difference in mattress type was positively associated with better patient outcomes. For patient populations that are known to have lower Braden risk scores the choice of bed could make a difference and reduce the incidence and prevalence of pressure ulcers.
To determine the incidence of pressure ulcers and healing rates of Stage I – III pressure ulcers when using both types of mattresses.
Significance: Pressure ulcers remain a significant issue for patients admitted to the acute care hospital. Despite initiatives to reduce pressure ulcers, 2005 data from the International Pressure Ulcer Prevalence Program shows only a small decrease in overall prevalence rates from preceding years with overall prevalence at approximately 14% to 15% in the acute care setting.
Methods: A prospective cohort study was completed at a 540 bed acute care facility located in Miami, Florida to compare Braden scores and the incidence of pressure ulcers among a convenience sample of 99 surgical patients who used 2 different types of mattresses. All enrolled patients were tracked daily on all study beds. Data collection included demographics, mattress type, Braden Pressure Ulcer Risk Scale, presence of pressure ulcers, co-morbidities, and specified laboratory values.
Results: The results suggest that only the black race (β = -.225; p = .03), days of bed confinement (β = -.257; p = .016), and bed mattress type (β = .257; p = .013) were independently associated with skin integrity. Of 97 participants three patients were documented to have pressure ulcers; two patients had pressure ulcers on admission that remained unchanged and one patient developed a pressure ulcer on their right hip (stage 2).
Discussion: The study results demonstrate that the demographic and therapeutic characteristics of both groups were not different. A difference in mattress type was positively associated with better patient outcomes. For patient populations that are known to have lower Braden risk scores the choice of bed could make a difference and reduce the incidence and prevalence of pressure ulcers.