Effectiveness of Static Air Mattress Overlay and Static Air Seat Cushion for the Prevention of Pressure Ulcers

Effectiveness of an Air Mattress Overlay and Seat Cushion for the Prevention of Pressure Ulcers

The purpose of this research study was to investigate if the use of a static air mattress overlay and static air seat cushion on all patients admitted to our surgical hospital unit would decrease the incidence of hospital acquired pressure ulcers. 

We used cross sectional data collection using the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI).  The target population was inpatients located on the surgical unit of our hospital and excluded any patient that was not on a static air mattress overlay during their entire inpatient hospital stay.  The study compared a one-day snapshot survey of patients with standard ulcer prevention strategies before usage of static air mattress and seat cushion and a one-day snapshot survey after usage of a static air mattress overlay and static air seat cushion, education for the patient, families and nursing staff.

We discovered that the percentage of our surgical patients with hospital acquired pressure ulcers (HPU) for the quarter prior to the research study was 18.18%.  The percentage of our surgical patients during the research study was 4.76%.   The patients that developed a HPU during our study had been previously excluded from the research study because they were not on a mattress overlay during their entire inpatient stay. 
We concluded that the use of a static air mattress overlay and static air seat cushion, when used on all patients admitted to our surgical unit along with education for the patient, families and staff resulted in positive patient outcomes as demonstrated by the significant reduction in hospital acquired pressure ulcers.