title: The effectiveness of three types of alternating pressure air mattresses in the prevention of pressure ulcers in Belgian hospitals.
abstract: To compare the effectiveness of multi-stage and one-stage alternating low-pressure air mattresses (ALPAM) and alternating pressure air mattress (APAM) overlays in preventing pressure ulcers among hospitalized patients, data were pooled (N = 617) from a study of patients allocated to multi-stage ALPAM (n = 252) or one-stage ALPAM (n = 264), and another study of patients allocated to APAM overlay (n = 101). Cumulative pressure ulcer incidence was 4.9% (n = 30) over 14 days. Fewer ulcers developed on multi-stage ALPAM compared with APAM overlay (OR = 0.33; 95% CI [0.11, 0.97]), but no difference was found between one-stage ALPAM and APAM overlay (OR = 0.40; 95% CI [0.14, 1.10]). Time to develop ulcers did not differ by mattress type.
authors.affiliation: Nursing Science, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Liesbet
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Demarré
authors.forename: Sofie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verhaeghe
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Hecke
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grypdonck
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Clays
authors.forename: Katrien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vanderwee
authors.forename: Dimitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Beeckman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000399:Air Pressure; D001513:Beds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000145:classification*; D001530:Belgium; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: alternating low-pressure air mattress; alternating pressure air mattress; decubitus ulcers; pressure ulcers; prevention; support surfaces