Prevalence of Skin Tears and Associated Factors in Hospitalized Patients with Cancer

Aims: Because there have been few epidemiological studies of Skin Tears (ST) in patients hospitalized with cancer, we sought to analyze the prevalence of and factors associated with ST in such patients. Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational epidemiological study with a quantitative approach, conducted at a cancer hospital in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, between November and December 2015. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, and participants were assessed with the Symptom Tracking and Reporting questionnaire. Results: We evaluated 341 patients, of whom 22 (6.4%) presented with ST. Antibiotic use, anticoagulant use, diaper use, and ecchymosis were significantly associated with ST (p<0.05 for all), although antibiotic use was associated with a lower occurrence of ST. The most common site of ST was the lower limbs (in 26.9%), followed by the sacral region and upper limbs. Conclusions: The prevalence of ST observed in our sample is similar to that reported in the few similar studies found in the literature. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the epidemiology of and factors associated with ST in hospitalized cancer patients, which will allow nursing professionals to develop prevention strategies and early interventions to avoid or minimize such injuries.