title: Cost-effectiveness of an intensive pressure ulcer prevention protocol in long-term care.
abstract: Conducted in a 77-bed long-term-care facility, this study compared the costs of implementing an intensive pressure ulcer prevention protocol plus the calculated costs of treatment before and after implementing the protocol. A total of 69 patients comprised the preprotocol sample; 16 of them developed 26 ulcers. The postprotocol sample consisted of 63 patient, 3 of whom developed 5 ulcers. The 6-month pressure ulcer incidence was 23% in the preprotocol sample and 5% in the postprotocol sample. Mean cost for prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers was $113 +/- $345 per subject for the preprotocol sample and $100 +/- $157 per subject for the postprotocol sample (t = 0.27, df = 130, p = .79). Mean time to ulcer development was 146 +/- 61 days for the preprotocol subjects and 158 +/- 53 days for the postprotocol subjects (log rank = 8.63, p = .003 Implementation of a protocol that emphasized pressure ulcer prevention significantly reduced the incidence of pressure ulcers and cost per day of ulcer-free life.
authors.affiliation: Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, MI, USA.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Xakellis
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Frantz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Harvey
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000191:economics* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012866:Skilled Nursing Facilities; D016019:Survival Analysis