title: Pressure ulcer healing with an intensive nutrition intervention in an acute setting: a pilot randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility of recruitment, retention, intervention delivery and outcome measurement in a nutritional intervention to promote pressure ulcer healing in an acute setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Some 50 tertiary hospital patients with stage II or greater pressure ulcer were randomised to receive either individualised nutritional care by a dietitian, including prescription of wound healing supplements; or standard nutritional care. Relevant nutritional and pressure ulcer (PU) parameters were collected at day 5, 10, 15, 22 and then weekly or until discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median length of hospital stay was 14 days (1-70) with 29 patients discharged by day 15. There were 24 patients discharged before their PU fully healed. Per cent change in valid PU area and score measures from baseline to day 15 were chosen for outcome data analysis to account for varying initial size and severity of the wound and length of stay. There was a larger percentage reduction in PU measures in the intervention group, but this was not statistically significant. Little difference was found in nutritional intake between the control and intervention groups indicating a requirement to focus on effective delivery of the intervention in future studies. Future studies in the acute setting need to account for length of stay and ideally follow patients until full healing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicate a positive association with nutrition intervention and PU healing and that a rigorously designed and adequately powered study is feasible.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This research was supported by a grant from the Queensland Health, Health Practitioner Research Scheme. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Banks
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine & Aged Care, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mudge
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research & Education in Nursing, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stankiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dwyer
authors.affiliation: Skin Integrity Services Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.affiliation: Skin Integrity Services Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044623:Nutrition Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000451:nursing*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Pressure ulcer; acute care; nutrition intervention