Prevalence and correlates of perineal dermatitis in nursing home residents.
BACKGROUND
Perineal dermatitis is an adverse outcome of incontinence, which is common in older nursing home residents; yet knowledge about perineal dermatitis in this population is sorely lacking.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence and significant correlates of perineal dermatitis in older nursing home residents.


METHODS
Assessment data from 59,558 records in the Minimum Data Set (MDS) were linked with 2,883,049 orders in the medical record which enabled definition of variables related to perineal dermatitis, identification of cases, and determination of the prevalence of perineal dermatitis. Data from two subsamples, each with the records of 10,215 older nursing home residents, were analyzed using logistic regression to identify the significant correlates of perineal dermatitis.


RESULTS
Perineal dermatitis was found in 5.7% (n = 3,405) of residents and 73% of these were incontinent. Having perineal dermatitis was significantly associated with (a) impairments in tissue tolerance (i.e., more health problems, presence of a fever, requiring nutrition support, and having more problems of diminished perfusion or oxygenation); (b)problems of the perineal environment (i.e., having fecal incontinence only, double incontinence, and more items associated with mechanical chafing); and (c) altered toileting ability from daily use of restraints.


CONCLUSIONS
Several correlates of perineal dermatitis (mechanical chafing, fecal and double incontinence, and use of restraints) appear modifiable through nursing intervention. Clinical interventions should consider the complex health status of this population.
Bliss
Donna Zimmaro
DZ
Long-Term Care of Elders, School of Nursing and Center for Gerontological Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA. bliss@umn.edu
Savik
Kay
K
Harms
Susan
S
Fan
Qiao
Q
Wyman
Jean F
JF
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017453:Dermatitis, Irritant / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010502:Perineum; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000150:complications*