title: Static Air Support Surfaces to Prevent Pressure Injuries: A Multicenter Cohort Study in Belgian Nursing Homes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and risk factors for developing pressure injuries (PIs) in patients placed on a static air support surfaces: mattress overlay, heel wedge, and seat cushion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multicenter cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample comprised 176 residents; their mean age was 87 (SD = 6.76) years; their mean Braden Scale score was 14 (SD = 2.54). The study was performed on a convenience sample of 6 nursing homes in Belgium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected on 23 care units. The primary outcome measure, cumulative PI incidence (category [stage] II-IV) over a 30-day observation period, was calculated. Pressure injury occurrence was defined according to the 2014 European and US National Pressure Injury Advisory panels, Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance classification system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PI incidence for category (stage) II-IV was 5.1%. Six residents (3.4%) developed a category II PI, and 3 (1.7%) developed a category III PI; no category IV ulcers occurred. No significant risk factors for category II-IV PIs were identified using multivariate logistic regression. Time of sitting in a chair was found to be a risk factor for development of nonblanchable erythema (category I PI) (odds ratio = 21.608; 95% confidence interval [CI], 20.510-22.812; P = .013). The median time to develop a category II-IV PI was 16 days (interquartile range = 2-26). The interrater reliability between the observations of the researcher and nurses on-site was almost perfect (0.86; 95% CI, 0.81-0.91).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found a low incidence of PIs when using a static air overlay mattress for patients at risk in a nursing home population. Static air support surfaces, alongside patient-tailored patient repositioning protocols, should be considered to prevent PIs in this patient population.
authors.affiliation: Brecht Serraes, MSc, RN, Intensive Care Unit, AZ Nikolaas, Sint-Niklaas, Belgium. Dimitri Beeckman, PhD, RN, Department of Public Health, University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Brecht
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Serraes
authors.forename: Dimitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Beeckman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000392:Air Movements; D001513:Beds / Q000592:standards*; D001530:Belgium; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors