The contribution made by an armchair with integral pressure-reducing cushion in the prevention of pressure sore incidence in the elderly, acutely ill patient.
The paper describes a clinical controlled trial of an armchair with integral pressure-reducing cushion, which took place on two elderly acute medical wards in a district general hospital. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the armchair would have an impact on reducing the occurrence of pressure sores. All patients were provided with a mattress or overlay in accordance with the hospital policy on mattress provision following a Waterlow risk assessment. Patients on ward A were provided with an armchair with integral pressure-reducing cushion, whilst patients on ward B continued to use their existing bedside armchair. Nominal data were collected on all pressure sores in patients who were not bedridden. Ward A had a significantly lower incidence of hospital-acquired pressure sores compared to ward B, and non-hospital-acquired pressure sores on this ward showed more improvement than those on ward B.
Collins
F
F
School of Healthcare Professions, University of Brighton, Eastbourne.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors