title: Comparison of the treatment of hydrocolloid and saline gauze for pressure ulcer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the hydrocolloid dressing versus saline gauze for the treatment of pressure ulcer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pubmed and Web of Knowledge were searched for randomized controlled trials for the treatment of hydrocolloid and saline gauze for pressure ulcer. The random effect model was used. Sensitivity analysis and publication bias were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven randomized controlled trials involving a total of 329 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The combined results suggested that significant association in complete healing were detected among hydrocolloid dressings and saline gauze [Summary RR=2.20, 95% CI=1.21-4.02, I(2)=48.5%]. The associations were also significant when we only combine the results for ulcers healed and the treatment duration of 8-12 weeks. No publication bias was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our meta-analysis suggested that the use of hydrocolloid dressing increased the likelihood of complete healing by more than two-fold compared with saline gauze dressing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Shanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Shanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Jieqiong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: Hydrocolloid; meta-analysis; pressure ulcer; saline gauze