Improving pressure ulcer care in intensive care units:Evaluating the impact of bundled care and silver nanoparticle dressings

BACKGROUND Pressure ulcer(PU)are prevalent among critically ill trauma patients,posing substantial risks.Bundled care strategies and silver nanoparticle dressings offer potential solutions,yet their combined effectiveness and impact on patient satisfaction remain insufficiently investigated.AIM To assess the impact of bundled care along with silver nanoparticle dressing on PUs management and family satisfaction in critically ill trauma patients.METHODS A total of 98 critically ill trauma patients with PUs in intensive care unit(ICU)were included in this study.Patients were randomly assigned to either the control group(conventional care with silver nanoparticle dressing,n=49)or the intervention group(bundled care with silver nanoparticle dressing,n=49).The PU Scale for Healing(PUSH)tool was used to monitor changes in status of pressure injuries over time.Assessments were conducted at various time points:Baseline(day 0)and subsequent assessments on day 3,day 6,day 9,and day 12.Family satisfaction was assessed using the Family Satisfaction ICU 24 ques-tionnaire.RESULTS No significant differences in baseline characteristics were observed between the two groups.In the intervention group,there were significant reductions in total PUSH scores over the assessment period.Specifically,surface area,exudate,and tissue type parameters all showed significant improvements compared to the control group.Family satisfaction with care and decision-making was notably higher in the intervention group.Overall family satisfaction was significantly better in the intervention group.CONCLUSION Bundled care in combination with silver nanoparticle dressings effectively alleviated PUs and enhances family satisfaction in critically ill trauma patients.This approach holds promise for improving PUs management in the ICU,benefiting both patients and their families.

Effect of psychological nursing intervention on anxiety level and quality of life in patients with gastrointestinal peptic ulcer

BACKGROUND Peptic ulcer is a common gastrointestinal disease,and psychological intervention has an important influence on its occurrence and development.AIM To investigate the effect of psychological nursing intervention on the anxiety level and quality of life of patients with gastrointestinal peptic ulcers.METHODS Two groups of patients with peptic ulcer were selected from January to December 2012,with 60 cases in each group,and psychological nursing intervention and routine treatment were respectively performed.Psychological nursing interven-tions include cognitive behavioral therapy,psychological support and relaxation training.Self-rating anxiety scale(SAS)and quality of life questionnaire were used to evaluate the anxiety level and quality of life of patients before,during and after treatment.RESULTS The SAS scores of the experimental group significantly decreased over the course of treatment,from 52.3 before treatment to 30.5 after treatment,while SAS scores of the control group did not change significantly.Meanwhile,the experimental group's quality of life score(SF-36)significantly improved over the course of treatment,from 65.2 to 85.2,while the control group remained stable.Further analysis showed that sex and age had no significant influence on the effect of psychotherapy.Both men and women,young and old,showed similar trends in anxiety relief and improved quality of life after treatment.CONCLUSION Psychological nursing-based intervention program has a positive effect on the anxiety level and quality of life of patients with gastrointestinal peptic ulcer.

Relationship between sleep quality and blood pressure level in nurses performing shift work

Objective:The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of sleep in nurses performing shift work in therapeutic and surgical depar tments and to establish possible relationships between level of blood pressure(BP)and quality of sleep.Methods:A total of 20 nurses of the therapeutic depar tments and 20 nurses of the surgical depar tments were enrolled in the study.Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI).BP was measured according to the standard protocol using the Korotkoff method;a sphygmomanometer was used for this twice with an interval of 2 min between 10:00 a.m.and 10:30 a.m.The average value for the 2 indicators was calculated.The diagnosis of essential ar terial hyper tension(AH)was established according to the recommendations of the European Association of Cardiology and the European Association of Hypertension(2018).Results:The overall assessment of the sleep quality of the nurses involved in shift work indicates poor sleep quality;this was true in respondents of both the surgical and therapeutic profiles.However,it was observed that the quality of sleep was significantly lower in nurses of the therapeutic departments.Moreover,poor sleep quality was associated with AH,which was diagnosed in 65%of the nurses of the therapeutic departments and 45%of the nurses of the surgical departments,that is,in almost all of the subjects.Herewith,in the nurses of the therapeutic departments,the level of systolic BP exceeded that of the nurses of the surgical departments.Conclusions:Poor sleep quality is a significant risk factor for AH development and is relevant to nurses performing shift work.Additional clinical studies should be conducted to better understand the mechanisms underlying such adverse cardiometabolic outcomes associated with sleep disorders in the health-sector shift workers.

The Misunderstanding and New Nursing Progress of Pressure Ulcers

In recent years, many foreign and domestic scholars have made a further study on the risk factors, high-risk groups, prevention and nursing of pressure ulcers. For all reasons such as clinical nursing workers and managers, new progresses can＇ t be well applied, and simultaneously pressure ulcers are misunderstood to some extent. These conditions are not conducive to the prevention and nursing of pressure ulcers and the improvement of patients＇ life quality and nursing service quality. Therefore, it is necessary to keep away from the misunderstanding, know well new progresses and reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers.

Nursing Effects of Medical Treatment Combination on Patients at High Risk of Developing Pressure Ulcers at Rural Homes

Objective:To explore the nursing effects of medical treatment combination on patients at high risk of developing pressure ulcers at rural homes.Methods:From January 2018 to December 2018,86 patients at high risk of developing pressure ulcers at rural homes who were in Wenjiang Hospital were randomly divided into a control group and an observed group.The control group received the routine publicity and education and visiting,while the observed group adopted the cooperative nursing model of medical treatment combination.Then compare the healing status and nursing satisfaction of the two groups.Results:Of the 43 patients with pressure ulcers in the observed group,18 had been in the second stage of pressure ulcers and 16 had been healed;14 had been in the third stage of pressure ulcers and 8 had been healed;11 had been in the fourth stage of pressure ulcers and 5 had been healed.The nursing satisfaction of the patients in the observed group was 95.35%.Conclusion:Conducting medical treatment combination on patients at high risk of developing pressure ulcers at rural homes can effectively improve the patients’and their families’awareness of pressure ulcer nursing,standardize their nursing behaviour,help recover the patients themselves and promote the patients’satisfaction.

Expert consensus on diagnosis and treatment of ulcerative colitis with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine:A nursing perspective

Ulcerative colitis(UC)is a chronic nonspecific intestinal inflammatory disease of unclear etiology,characterized by continuous and diffuse inflammatory changes of colorectal mucosa.In recent years,the incidence rate of UC in China has increased year by year,but there is no effective cure method in Western medicine.Traditional Chinese medicine treatment based on syndrome differentiation has the unique advantages of simplicity,convenience,effectiveness,and low cost.Therefore,integration of Chinese and Western medicine has become an important strategy for UC diagnosis and treatment,and has made significant progress in UC.On the basis of learning from a number of consensuses at home and abroad,combined with Chinese research results and the actual clinical situation of traditional Chinese and Western medicine,the UC group of the Chinese Association of Integrative Medicine has formulated the expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of UC with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine.In this consensus,the pathogenesis,etiology and pathogenesis,diagnosis,integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment,and chronic disease management with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine for UC were recommended by experts.This article interprets the consensus from the perspective of nursing in order to provide reference basis for clinical nursing workers.

Validation of LPD Scale for the Assessment of Pressure Ulcer at Home

Objectives: This study was designed to test and validate the new LPD scale in a home care setting. The specific objectives are to validate the LPD scale for subjects cared for at home;and to compare LPD to the Braden scale for internal validity. Method: This multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted in the domestic environment of subjects cared for Home Care services from North to South of Italy. Data collection lasted 8 months, between June 2018 and September 2020, and consisted of the simultaneous compilation of the new LPD, and the Braden scale. Home Care Expert nurses could interface with the recruited subjects and/or caregivers. The parameters considered to validate the new scale were sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive values (PPV), odds ratio (OR), and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: Of the 679 recruited subjects, 63.2% were women, and more than 50% did not have a pressure ulcer. 48.2% of the sample aged over 85 years old;69% was affected by multiple disease, and 76.6% took a lot of drugs. 91.6% of the subjects were affected by a partial or total functional dependency. Around 50% of subjects presented double incontinence, and 43% were conscious and collaborated. 85.4% of subjects lived in a healthy environment. The predictive validity parameters showed: Se 77.25%, Sp 84.04%, PPV 91.37%, and the area under the curve (AUC) 0.88% with a confidence interval (CI) 95%. These values mean a moderately accuracy of the test. Conclusions: The new LPD scale has demonstrated a good capacity for identifying the subjects at risk of pressure ulcer and had a better discriminatory power rather than Braden scale.

Comparative Observation on Nursing Effect of Nursing Intervention and Routine Nursing in Patients with Renal Calculi and Gastric Ulcer and the Impacts on Epidermal Growth Factor

Objective: To explore the comparative observation on nursing effect of nursing intervention and routine nursing in patients with renal calculi and gastric ulcer and the impacts on epidermal growth factor. Methods: A total of 72 patients with renal calculi and gastric ulcer were selected and treated in our hospital from January 2018 to December 2018. They were divided into the observation group and the control group, 36 for each. Comprehensive nursing intervention was implemented in the observation group, whereas routine nursing was implemented in the control group. The level of epidermal growth factor, nursing satisfaction, renal calculi recurrence rate, average hospital stay and postoperative blood loss were compared between the two groups after nursing. Results: There was no significant difference in the level of epidermal growth factor between the two groups before nursing (P > 0.05), while after nursing, the level in the observation group was higher compared with the control group, and the difference between the two groups was significant (P Conclusion: With regard to patients with renal calculi and gastric ulcer, comprehensive nursing intervention can improve nursing satisfaction and quality of patients’ lives, reduce calculi recurrence rate, and increase the level of epidermal growth factor, which has clinical application value.

Treating extended stage IV ischial pressure ulcer in patient with spinal cord injury utilizing a multidisciplinary approach:a case report

Background:Pressure ulcers are one of the most common and dangerous sequelae of spinal cord injuries.Pressure ulcers treatment represents one of the most challenging clinical problems faced by clinicians.Method:This report examines a case of complicated stage-4 pressure ulcers in a young adult who had gunshot injury in his spine above T-11 level treated following a multidisciplinary approach.A multidisciplinary team formulated a multifaceted program that includes meticulous pressure relief program,wound care and flap reconstructive surgery,osteomyelitis treatment,nutrition optimization,post-operative physiotherapy,patient education,and psychological support,that recruited for this patient over the course of his stay at our unit.Results:During the third day postoperatively showed good blood circulation without necrosis or hematoma and site of ulcer completely has healed.Conclusion:Implementation of a multidisciplinary approach was key to optimizing surgical outcomes in spinal cord injury patients who have pressure sores,achieving a low recurrence rate and reducing readmissions.

Benefits of multidisciplinary collaborative care team-based nursing services in treating pressure injury wounds in cerebral infarction patients

BACKGROUND Cerebral infarction patients need to be bedridden for long periods of time often resulting in pressure injuries,which may represent a serious threat to patients'life and health.An effective nursing program should be adopted for timely intervention in patients with pressure wounds.AIM To explore the value of nursing services based on a multidisciplinary collaborative treatment team in patients with pressure injury wounds following cerebral infarction.METHODS Patients with cerebral infarction pressure injury wounds in our hospital from December 2016 to January 2021 were selected and divided into one study group and one control group based on the simple random number table method.The control group was treated with conventional nursing care(CNC),and the study group was treated with care services based on multidisciplinary collaborative care(MDCC).The Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing(PUSH),healing effect,Self-Perceived Burden Score(SPBS),and satisfaction with the intervention were calculated before and after 2 and 4 wk of intervention in both groups.RESULTS Sixty-two patients were enrolled,and 31 patients were assigned to each group.The results of the interventions were as follows:(1)There was no significant difference between the PUSH scores of the MDCC group(11.19±2.46)and CNC group(12.01±2.79)before the intervention(P>0.05),and the PUSH scores were lower after 2 and 4 wk of intervention in the MDCC group(6.63±1.97 and 3.11±1.04)than in the CNC group(8.78±2.13 and 4.96±1.35 points)(P<0.05);(2)The rate of wound healing in the MDCC group(96.77%)was higher than that in the CNC group(80.65%)(P<0.05);(3)There was no significant difference between the SPBS scores of emotional factors(21.15±3.11),economic factors(9.88±2.15),and physical factors(8.19±2.23)in the two groups before the intervention.The scores of emotional factors(13.51±1.88),economic factors(6.38±1.44),and physical factors(5.37±1.08)were lower in the MDCC group than in the CNC group(16.89±2.05,7.99±1.68 and 7.06±1.19)after 4 wk of intervention(P<0.05);and(4)Satisfaction with the intervention was higher in the MDCC group(93.55%)than in the CNC group(74.19%)(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Interventions for patients with cerebral infarction pressure wounds based on an MDCC treatment team can effectively reduce patients'self-perceived burden,improve pressure wound conditions,facilitate wound healing,and increase patient satisfaction with the intervention.

Nurses’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice regarding Pressure Ulcers Prevention and Treatment

Pressure ulcers (PU) are one of the most common hospital-acquired problems that occur in patients with mobility limitations. Such wounds can produce pain and deterioration of the underlying condition. Sometimes, they can be life-threatening, and their treatment can impose a financial burden on both the patient’s family and society. Nurses’ knowledge, attitude, and practice are the most important weapons to fight this preventable burden of PU among patients with impaired mobility. The purpose of this study was to assess nurses’ knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding PU prevention and treatment at Clinique Prince Louis Rwagasore (CPLR) in Bujumbura, Burundi. A cross-sectional study design was used. Convenience sampling was used to invite all 28 qualified nurses and nurses’ aids who work in the services where critically ill patients are admitted to participate. A questionnaire was created, and underwent evaluation of face validity before using it to collect data which was analysed using SPSS 21.0. Results revealed that nurses’ knowledge and practice scores were low as participants scored less than 50% on the six knowledge items and the six practice items. However, the attitude scores were greater than 65% on the five items used to evaluate attitude. A strong negative correlation was found between nurses’ knowledge and their attitude scores (r = ?0.479, p = 0.015). Education level was negatively associated with nurses’ knowledge and practice scores of PU prevention and treatment. A high attitude score did not correlate with a higher practice score which might be explained by low knowledge scores (less than 50% on knowledge items). Continuous professional development (CPD) was recommended to improve nurses’ knowledge scores and implementation of PU preventive practices at CPLR.

The competence of nursing students to prevent pressure injury - ascoping review

Objective: The purpose of the present study is to review the existing literatures to understand the competency ofnursing students to prevent the pressure injury. Methods: Arksey and O'Malley’s scoping review framework havebeen applied to understand the competency of nursing students on pressure injury prevention. A variety ofdatabases have been searched in this study, including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library,CNKI, Wanfang databases. Results: A total of 17 articles were selected and three main themes were summarized:“Knowledge and Attitude”, “Preparation” and “Educational situation and needs”. Conclusion: Although theattitudes towards pressure injuries were positive, the knowledge of nursing students on preventing pressure injurywas insufficient and their consciousness was weak. The controversy of the readiness of nursing students to preventpressure injuries has existed for a long time. Nursing students were severely lacking in pressure sore educationcourses and needed better education methods and more clinical practice opportunities.

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.

The Relationship between Time Pressure and Burnout Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Survey among Jordanian Nurses

Burnout among nurses is well documented in literature. Precursors of burnout such as time pressure need further study for better understanding. In Jordan literature, studies regarding time pressure and burnout among Jordanian nurses are scarce. This study aimed to 1) evaluate the relationship between time pressure and burnout, and 2) identify participants’ characteristics that may have relationship with time pressure and burnout. A descriptive correlational design was utilized using a self-reported cross-sectional survey to collect data from 175 Jordanian nurses. Participants reported high level of time pressure (24.8 out of 126) and burnout (72.9 out of 126). Time pressure was correlated with emotional exhaustion and depersonalization (r = 0.561, 0.491, P < 0.01, respectively). Burnout was highest on the emotional exhaustion (72%) compared to 53.9% for depersonalization and 49.2% for personal achievement. Depersonalization showed the most frequent correlation with participants’ characteristics. Burnout was found to be common among Jordanian nurses, and time pressure is a precursor of this phenomenon, giving rise to the consequences on both patients’ and nurses’ health. Healthcare administrators have to modify the nursing work environment to be less stressful and more appealing to overcome the causes of nurses’ burnout.

Predictive risk scales for development of pressure ulcers in pediatric patients admitted to general ward and intensive care unit

BACKGROUND More than ten special scales are available to predict the risk of pressure ulcers in children.However,the performances of those scales have not yet been compared in China.AIM To compare the Waterlow,Braden Q,and Glamorgan scales,and identify more suitable pressure ulcer evaluation scale for the pediatric intensive care unit(PICU).METHODS Trained nurses used the Waterlow,Braden Q,and Glamorgan scales to assess pediatric patients at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital(China)within 24 h of admission from May 2017 to December 2020 in two stages.Skin examination was carried out to identify pressure ulcers every 3 d for 3 wk.RESULTS The incidence of pressure ulcers was 3/28(10.7%)in the PICU and 5/314(1.6%)in the general pediatric ward.For children in the general ward,the Waterlow,Braden Q,and Glamorgan scales had comparable area under the operating characteristic curve(AUC)of 0.870,0.924,and 0.923,respectively,and optimal cut-off values of 14,14,and 29 points.For PICU,the Waterlow,Braden Q,and Glamorgan scales had slightly lower AUC of 0.833,0.733,and 0.800,respectively,and optimal cut-off values of 13,16,and 27 points.Braden Q demonstrated a satisfactory specificity,and during the second stage of the study for PICU patients,the AUC of the Braden Q scale was 0.810,with an optimal cut-off value of 18.35 points.CONCLUSION The Waterlow,Braden Q,and Glamorgan scales have comparable performance while the Braden Q scale demonstrates a better specificity and can be successfully used by pediatric nurses to identify patients at high risk of pressure ulcers in PICU.

Autologous mesenchymal stem cells applied on the pressure ulcers had produced a surprising outcome in a severe case of neuromyelitis optica

Recent studies provided evidence that mesenchymal stem cells（MSCs） have regenerative potential in cutaneous repair and profound immunomodulatory properties making them a candidate for therapy of neuroimmunologic diseases. Neuromyelitis optica（NMO） is an autoimmune, demyelinating central nervous system disorder characterized by a longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesion. A 46-year-old male diagnosed with NMO had relapses with paraplegia despite treatment and developed two stage IV pressure ulcers（PUs） on his legs. The patient consented for local application of autologous MSCs on PUs. MSCs isolated from the patient＇s bone marrow aspirate were multiplied in vitro during three passages and embedded in a tridimensional collagen-rich matrix which was applied on the PUs. Eight days after MSCs application the patient showed a progressive healing of PUs and improvement of disability. Two months later the patient was able to walk 20 m with bilateral assistance and one year later he started to walk without assistance. For 76 months the patient had no relapse and no adverse event was reported. The original method of local application of autologous BM-MSCs contributed to healing of PUs. For 6 years the patient was free of relapses and showed an improvement of disability. The association of cutaneous repair, sustained remission of NMO and improvement of disability might be explained by a promotion/optimization of recovery mechanisms in the central nervous system even if alternative hypothesis should be considered. Further studies are needed to assess the safety and efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells in NMO treatment.

Development of an accurate nursing program based on function in chronic venous leg ulcers:protocol for matching function status with nursing interventions using the Delphi survey

Objective: Venous leg ulceration(VLU) is one of the complications of lower extremity venous reflux and reflux disorder of severe diseases, with many adverse effects on patient’s work and life. Nowadays, more and more patients with VLU accept wound care in community setting. Clinical nurses generally take care of the patients based on their own experiences. Healing in VLU is an incredibly complex process, which puzzles even experts. The majority of general nurses do not have this level of expertise, especially those nurses serving in community. Function is the basis of nursing activities. Patients always show different clinical manifestations and selfcare abilities due to various function states, which cannot be reflected completely by the existing nursing practice. How to describe nursing practice standardized in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of interventions and facilitate interdisciplinary communication is another urgent problem. Therefore, the aim of this project is to develop an accurate nursing program based on function in chronic venous leg ulcers, which can both satisfy the needs of patients and promote nursing revolution.Methods: This study will use International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health as a framework to choose suitable functions and to filter function classification standards of chronic venous leg ulcers through evidence-based systematic research.Nursing interventions related to VLU are selected based on Nursing Interventions Classification, adding other nursing activities by methods of evidence-based systematic review and clinical observation. Then, nursing interventions and function status are matched through steering committee. Finally, the Delphi survey method is adopted to make nursing program native and scientific.Conclusions: This study is expected to be very significant and meaningful in using standardized nursing terminology. The nursing program established could better meet the needs of both patients with chronic venous leg ulcers and clinical nurses, promoting the development of wound specialist and standardized nursing language.

Training program for caregivers to prevent pressure ulcers among elderly residents at geriatric homes

Objectives:Pressure ulcer(PU)is one of the most common problem among the bedridden elderly and has significantly more burden on elderly and caregivers.This study is aimed to evaluate the effects of the training program for caregivers to prevent PUs among elderly residents at geriatric homes.Methods:A quasi-experimental design was used to carry out the current study.A purposive sample comprised of all formal(39 nurses)or informal caregivers(39)and all immobilized elderly residents(35)who are found in all geriatric centers in Helwan district.A structured questionnaire was used to assess caregivers’socio-demographic characteristics,knowledge,attitude,and observational checklists for their practice for prevention of PU at pre-and posttest and during follow-up.Results:After the training program,there were improvements in the level of knowledge,practice,and positive attitude of caregivers about PU prevention with a statistically significant difference between pre-,post-,and follow-up training programs(P<0.001).Conclusions:The study revealed that the training program seemed to change the knowledge,practice,and attitude of the subjects to PU prevention.This,in turn,implies that adequate knowledge affects directly the elderly caregivers’attitudes as well as practice for prevention could be important in reducing the burden of PU among the elderly.Thus,conducting a training program for caregivers at different geriatric homes about caring skills for elders can prevent PU,and using spontaneous reposition is very effective to prevent PUs.

Clinical Evidence to Prevent Pressure Ulcer at High Risk Patients: Systematic Review

Background: Pressure ulcer (PU) has clinical complications for patients, in addition to cost and quality related consequences for healthcare organizations. PU is defined as a pressure injury is localized damage to the skin and underlying soft tissue usually over a bony prominence or related to a medical or other devices. The estimated prevalence of PUs among 918,621 patients declined from 13.5% in 2006 to 9.3% in 2015. Aim: The objective of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of dressing and topical agent to prevent pressure ulcer, for hospitalized adults are at risk to develop a pressure ulcer. Methods: The review considered the randomized clinical trial (RCT), quasi pretest-posttest, and descriptive studies published in English. Participants in the studies were adult, aged over 18 years, considered to be a risk to develop PU, have no PU at the onset of the study, and managed at any healthcare setting. The primary outcome measured in the included studies was considered as the incidence of hospital acquired pressure ulcer (HAPU). Results: The review result out of five RCT and three non-RCT studies. Conclusion: The reviewed trials showed low certainty of imprecision. No definite preventive intervention to prevent PU among patients who at risk to develop PU. And the non-RCT studies, the findings indicate significant results of two studies, but due to the methodological context of non-RCT studies, the findings may not be granted to be generalized. The external factors at each study may affect the effectiveness of the intervention. Also, third study showed no significance of the intervention between groups.