Preventing pressure ulcers with the Australian Medical Sheepskin: an open-label randomised controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the effectiveness of a new high-performance Australian medical sheepskin (meeting Australian Standard 4480.1-1998) in preventing pressure ulcers in a general hospital population at low to moderate risk of these ulcers.


METHODS
Open-label randomised controlled clinical trial.


METHODS
A large metropolitan teaching hospital in Melbourne, Victoria, in 2000.


METHODS
441 patients aged over 18 years admitted between 12 June and 30 November 2000, with expected length of stay over 2 days and assessed as at low to moderate risk of developing pressure ulcers.


METHODS
Patients were randomly allocated to receive a sheepskin mattress overlay for the duration of their hospital stay (218 patients) or usual treatment, as determined by ward staff (referent group, 223 patients).


METHODS
Incidence rate and cumulative incidence of pressure ulcers, assessed daily throughout hospital stay.


RESULTS
58 patients developed pressure ulcers (sheepskin group, 21; referent group, 37). Cumulative incidence risk was 9.6% in the sheepskin group (95% CI, 6.1%-14.3%) versus 16.6% in the referent group (95% CI, 12.0%-22.1%). Patients in the sheepskin group developed new pressure ulcers at a rate less than half that of referent patients (rate ratio, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.26-0.67).


CONCLUSIONS
The Australian Medical Sheepskin is effective in reducing the incidence of pressure ulcers in general hospital inpatients at low to moderate risk of these ulcers.
Jolley
Damien J
DJ
School of Health Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Wright
Robyn
R
McGowan
Sunita
S
Hickey
Mark B
MB
Campbell
Don A
DA
Sinclair
Rodney D
RD
Montgomery
Kenneth C
KC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012756:Sheep; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014739:Victoria; D014935:Wool