Contribution of skin temperature regularity to the risk of developing pressure ulcers in nursing facility residents.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to determine whether characterizing skin temperature regulation as a functional property of the skin as it relates to tissue tolerance improves the clinician's understanding of pressure ulcer risk prediction.


METHODS
A 2-group time-series design was used to observe skin temperature regularity (entropy) and self-similarity (spectral exponent).


METHODS
Twenty nursing facility residents wore skin temperature monitors continuously for 5 days. One bathing episode was observed because bathing is a commonly occurring care procedure.


METHODS
Difference in skin temperature multiscale entropy and spectral exponent by risk category and pressure ulcer outcome.


RESULTS
Multiscale entropy (MSE) for skin temperature was lowest in those who developed pressure ulcers, F1,18 = 35.14, P < .001. Skin temperature mean MSE, F1,17 = 5.55, P = .031 and the skin temperature spectral exponent, F1,17 = 6.19, P = .023 differentiated the risk groups. The change in skin temperature entropy during bathing was significant, t(16) = 2.55, P = .021.


CONCLUSIONS
Skin temperature MSE and the spectral exponent were significantly different between low-risk and higher risk residents and residents who did and did not develop pressure ulcers. The study supports measurement of skin temperature regulation as a component of tissue tolerance to pressure.
Rapp
Mary Pat
MP
University of Texas Health Science Center Houston School of Nursing, Houston, Texas, USA.
Bergstrom
Nancy
N
Padhye
Nikhil S
NS
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001494:Baths; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D019277:Entropy; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology