Table 1.
Patient characteristics, outcomes and changes in process
| Non-selected patients | Selected patients | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of patients | 254 | 88 | |
| BMI (average) | 26 | 26 (5) | |
| Age (average) | 80 | 82 | |
| Females (average) | 169 (67%) F | 60 (68%) F | |
| Patients at risk of pressure ulcers (average) | 254 (100%) | 88 (100%) | |
| Comparison of clinical effects | Baseline | Baseline | After |
| Prevalence | |||
| Grade 1 | 50 (20%) | 21 (23.9%) | 16 (18.2%) |
| Grade 2 | 9 (3.5%) | 10 (11.4%) | 2 (2.3%) |
| Grade 3 | 3 (1.2%) | 1 (1.1%) | 1 (1.1%) |
| Grade 4 | 5 (2%) | 2 (2.3%) | 1 (1.1%) |
| Total | 59 (27%) | 34 (38.6%) | 20 (22.7%)* |
| Incidence (1 month) | |||
| Grade 1 | 19 (7%) | 10 (14.7%) | 4 (4.5%) |
| Grade 2 | 6 (3%) | 3 (3.4%) | 0 (0%) |
| Total | 25 (9%) | 13 (15%) | 4 (4.5%)* |
| Useful interventions | |||
| Risk assessment | 254 (100%) | 88 (100%) | 88 (100%) |
| Using a 30-degree side to side turn at least every 4 hours | 24 (9%) | 7 (8%) | 9 (10%) |
| Preventive mattress | 78 (30%) | 24 (27%) | 40 (45%)** |
| Involving patients in prevention | 41 (16%) | 3 (3%) | 7 (8%) |
| Involving family/friends/caregivers in prevention | 26 (10%) | 3 (3%) | 9 (11%) |
| Reactivation and mobilization by paramedics | 10 (4%) | 3 (3%) | 11 (13%) |
| Smearing of the skin in case of incontinence | 30 (11%) | 8 (9%) | 9 (11%) |
| Assessing nutritional state and preventing nutritional deficiency | 13 (5%) | 12 (14%) | 4 (5%) |
| Inserting a catheter to prevent maceration of the skin | 3 (1%) | 1 (1%) | 1 (1%) |
| Ensuring a clean, dry and square lower layer of bedclothes | 52 (20%) | 8 (9%) | 12 (14%) |
| Non-useful interventions | |||
| Smearing the skin (with topical agents) to prevent disturbance in blood supply caused by pressure | 50 (20%) | 23 (26%) | 6 (7%)* |
| Massage | 3 (4%) | 0 (0%) | 2 (2%) |
| Using a 90-degree side to side turn at least every 4 hours | 2 (1%) | 0 (0%) | 3 (4%) |
*P < 0.05
**p < 0.005