title: Skin care practice in German nursing homes: a German-wide cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Due to anatomical and physiological changes in the course of aging and due to increased vulnerability, there are special skin care needs in elderly and care-dependent persons. Little is known about skin care practice in German long-term care facilities. The aim of the study was to gather epidemiological data about skin care practice in German nursing homes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In spring 2012 a German-wide cross sectional study was conducted in 47 nursing homes. Based on standardized data collection sheets. demographics and variables about methods and frequencies of skin cleansing and application of skin care products for 3 552 nursing home residents were collected and analyzed. The variables age, gender and level of care dependency was representative for the group of all German nursing home residents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than 90% of investigated nursing home residents required skin care assistance. Washing body parts or the whole body were conducted most frequently (89.1%, 95% CI 88.0- 90.1). Skin care leave-on products were used in 91.7% (95% CI 90.7-92.6), whereas there were large variations between individuals. In total, more than 100 brands were used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Skin care practice in multimorbid care dependent persons shows large variations. How skin care products meet the special requirements of aged skin and whether they enhance the skin barrier function and prevent cuteneous skin damage is unknown.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center for Hair and Skin Science, Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany. jan.kottner@charite.de
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kottner
authors.forename: Yasmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rahn
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Blume-Peytavi
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lahmann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017592:Skin Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult