Predictive accuracy of the Braden Q Scale in risk assessment for paediatric pressure ulcer: A meta-analysis

Aims:Paediatric pressure ulcers are a serious problem to healthcare service.Thus,effective and early identification of the risk of developing pressure ulcer is essential.The Braden Q scale is a widely used tool in the risk assessment of paediatric pressure ulcer,but its predictive power is controversial.Hence,we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the predictive power of the Braden Q scale for pressure ulcer in hospitalised children and offer recommendations for clinical decision.Methods:Studies that evaluated the predictive power of the Braden Q scale were searched through databases in English and Chinese,including Medline,Cochrane Library,Embase,CINAHL,SinoMed,CNKI,Wangfang and VIP.The studies were screened by two independent reviewers.QUADAS-2 was used to assess the risk of bias of eligible studies.Demographic data and predictive value indices were extracted.The pooled sensitivity,specificity and receiver operating characteristics(ROC)were calculated by MetaDiSc 1.4 using random-effects models.Results:Cochran Q=26.13(P=0.0036)indicated the existence of heterogeneity;the I2 for pooled DOR was 61.7%,suggesting significant heterogeneity among the included studies.The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.73(95%CI:0.67-0.78)and 0.61(95%CI:0.59-0.63),respectively,yielding a combined DOR of 3.47(95%CI:2-6.01).The area under the ROC curve was 0.7078±0.0421,and the overall diagnostic accuracy(Q*)was 0.6591±0.0337.Sensitivity analysis showed the results were robust.Conclusion:The Braden Q scale has moderate predictive validity with medium sensitivity and low specificity for pressure ulcers in hospitalised children.Further development and modification of this tool for use in paediatric population are warranted.

Predicting Pressure Ulcer Risk with the Braden Q Scale in Chinese Pediatric Patients in ICU

Objective: The purpose of this study was to: ( 1 ) observe the value of the score of Braden Q scale in predicting pressure ulcers in pediatric Intensive Care Unit ( ICU) patients in China, ( 2) determine the critical cutoff point for classifying patient risk, and ( 3) describe the pressure ulcer incidence. Methods: A prospective cohort descriptive study with a convenience sample of 198 patients bed-ridden for at least 24 hours without pre-existing pressure ulcers enrolled from a pediatric intensive care unit ( PICU) . The Braden Q score and skin assessment were independently rated, and data collectors were blinded to the other measures. Patients were observed for up to 3 times per week for 2 weeks and once a week thereafter until PICU discharge. Results: Fourteen patients ( 7. 1%) developed pressure ulcers; 12 ( 85. 7%) were Stage I pres-sure ulcers, 2 ( 14. 3%) were Stage II, and there were no Stage III or IV pressure ulcers. Most pressure ulcers ( 64. 3%) were present at the first observation. The Braden Q Scale has an overall cumulative variance contribution rate of 69. 599%. Using Stage I+ pressure ulcer data obtained during the first observation, a Receiver Operator Characteristic ( ROC) curve for each possible score of the Braden Q Scale was constructed. The area under the curve ( AUC) was 0. 57, and the 95% confidence interval was 0. 50-0. 62. At a cutoff score of 19, the sensitivity was 0. 71, and the specificity was 0. 53. The AUC of each item of the Braden Q Scale was 0. 543-0. 612. Conclusions: PICU patients are susceptible to pressure ulcers. The value of the Braden Q Scale in the studied pediatric population was relatively poor, and it should be optimized before it is used in Chinese pediatric patients.