Purpose: To compare two treatments for the prevention of PD in high-risk immune compromised patients. The research questions are 1) Is there a difference between the protocols in the percentage of patients who have clear and intact skin and score one on the perineal skin condition section of the Perineal Dermatitis Grading Scale; 2) Does one treatment protocol take less time to administer; 3) Is one treatment protocol preferred by patients and staff and 4) What is the comparison of cost between the treatment protocols?

Methods and Analysis: This study uses a pretest posttest static group design with intact study groups randomly assigned to one of two interventions that will run consecutively. Group A consists of the current standard treatment (generic baby wipe followed by a zinc oxide based ointment1). Group- B will use 3% dimethicone washcloths2. Power analysis determined that each arm of the study will accrue forty-four patients. With alpha =0.05 and a 2-sided test of significance and 44 patients per group, there would be 80% power to detect a between-group difference of 30%.

Descriptive statistics will be conducted to describe the sample. Chi Square will be used to examine nominal or ordinal level variable and means and standard deviations for ratio and interval level variables. Each of the study research questions will be examined using inferential statistics to compare the respective outcome variables across the two intervention groups.

Findings and Implications: Data collection is currently in progress thus findings are not available.

1Balmex zinc oxide diaper rash cream by Johnson and Johnson 2 Comfortshield washcloths by Sage