title: Evaluation of the incidence of pressure ulcers using hill-rom versacare surfaces.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to: (1) determine the clinical effectiveness of a low-air-loss surface, VersaCare P500, in the prevention of pressure ulcers in surgical patients; (2) determine differences in the adjusted Braden scores between those using VersaCare and VersaCare P500 mattress surfaces; and (3) explore the demographic and therapeutic factors associated with the risk of skin breakdown as measured by Braden score.
  
  
  METHODS
  An open label quasi-experimental clinical trial was conducted.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 540-bed acute care hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 127 surgical patients admitted for elective orthopedic or neurologic surgery participated in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Decreased pressure ulcers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample was composed of 51 (51.5%) Hispanics, 38 (38.4%) Blacks, and 10 (10.1%) Whites. Both groups were not different in their demographic and therapeutic characteristics except with regard to their total number of bed-confinement days (t = -2.225; P = .028). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that only Black race (β = -.225; P = .03), days of bed confinement (β = -.257; P = .016), and bed type (β = .257; P = .013) were independently associated with skin integrity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors' findings suggest that the use of mircroclimate performance mattresses is associated with higher Braden scores, indicating a possible benefit with regard to protecting skin integrity and decreasing the risk of skin breakdown. Blacks were more likely to have lower Braden scores and "days of bed confinement" were negatively associated with the Braden score.
authors.affiliation: University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies, Coral Gables, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Denise M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Korniewicz
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fajardo
authors.forename: Maher
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Masri
mesh_terms: D001513:Beds; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome