Table 3.
Study characteristics of 14 controlled clinical trials on the prevention of heel ulcers
| Type of intervention | Reference (total N) | Country | E/C or E2 (N) | Mean age (E/C) (year) | Population | Type of intervention for experimental | Type of intervention for control or E2/E3 | Additional intervention | Results n/N | PEDro/10 | Jadad/5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air mattress | Aronovitch et al. (1) | USA | E = 112, C = 105 | 63·5 ± 11·9 | Cardio Sx | Air Mattress | Gel pad = OR, SHM = post‐OR | None | E = 0/112, C = 3/105 | 3 | 0 |
| 64·7 ± 11·8 | |||||||||||
| Jesurum et al. (3) | South central USA | E = 16, C = 20 | 67 ± 5·51 | Cardio Sx | Air Mattress | SHM and Foam | TS | E = 4/16, C = 2/20 | 4 | 2 | |
| 69 ± 2·31 | |||||||||||
| Russell et al. (31) | Canada | E = 98, C = 100 | 65·2 ± 10·9 | Cardio Sx | Air Mattress | Gel pad = OR, SHM = post‐OR | None | E = 0/98, C = 1/100 | 6 | 3 | |
| 65·2 ± 10·6 | |||||||||||
| Takala et al. (33) | Finland | E = 11, C = 13 | 60 ± 16 | ICU | Air Mattress | SHM | SRC | E = 0/11, C = 2/13 | 5 | 2 | |
| 63 ± 12 | |||||||||||
| Devices | Gilcreast et al. (27) | USA | E1 = 77, E2 = 87, E3 = 76 | Data not available | ICU, Med Surg ward, cardiology | Bunny Boot | Egg Crate, Foot Waffle | SHP | E1 = 3/77, E2 = 4/87, E3 = 5/76 | 4 | 1 |
| Tymec et al (11) | USA | E = 26, C = 26 | 66·6 ± 16·5 | Mixed | Device‐FW | Device‐SHP | SRC | E = 0/26, C = 1/26 | 3 | 2 | |
| Foam mattress | Gray and Smith (28) | UK | E = 50, C = 50 | 69 ± 4·5 | Surg/Ortho, Med wards | Foam Mattress | SHM | SRC, AD | E = 0/50, C = 1/50 | 6 | 3 |
| 61 ± 4·1 | |||||||||||
| Gunningberg et al. (29) | Sweden | E = 48, C = 53 | 84 (66–102) | Surg/Ortho, Med wards | Foam Mattress | SHM | SRC, AD | E = 3/48, C = 5/53 | 5 | 3 | |
| 85 (67–96) | |||||||||||
| Vyhlidal et al. (34) | USA | E = 20, C = 20 | 74·25 ± 17·49 | LTC | Foam Mattress | SHM | SRC | E = 2/20, C = 8/20 | 5 | 2 | |
| 80·16 ± 8·96 | |||||||||||
| Overlays | Conine et al. (25) | Canada | E1 =76, E2 = 72 | 38·8 ± 13·0 | Neuro | Silicore Overlay | Air Overlay | SRC, TS, AD | E1 = 18/76, E2 = 19/72 | 4 | 2 |
| 35·6 ± 13·0 | |||||||||||
| Daechsel and Conine (26) | Canada | E1 = 16, E2 = 16 | 42·6 ± 13·7 | LTC, Neuro | Silicore Overlay | Air Overlay | SRC, TS, AD | E1 = 0/16, E2 = 2/16 | 5 | 2 | |
| 38·5 ± 13·82 | |||||||||||
| Sanada et al. (32) | Japan | E1 = 26, E2 = 29, C = 27 | 73·9 ± 10·4 | Mixed | Air Overlay, Air Overlay | SHM | SRC, TS | E1 = 2/26, E2 = 0/29, C = 2/27 | 4 | 3 | |
| 69·5 ± 14·7 | |||||||||||
| 70·6 ± 10·7 | |||||||||||
| Combined | Gebhardt et al. (24) | UK | E = 23, C = 20 | 55 (23–83) | ICU | Combined‐AP | Combined‐CLP | SRC, TS | E = 0/23, C = 2/20 | 2 | 1 |
| 60 (21–83) | |||||||||||
| Inman et al. 23, 30 | Canada | E = 107, C = 37 | 64·6 ± 15·2 | ICU | Combined‐P | Combined‐P/R | TS | E = 15/107, C = 4/37 | 4 | 3 | |
| 65·9 ± 15·3 |
AD, additional intervention; AP‐, alternating pressure; C, control; Cardio Sx, cardiovascular surgery; CLP, continuous low pressure; Combined, mattress + overlay; DL, double‐layer air cell overlay; E, experimental; FW, foot waffle; ICU, intensive care unit; LTC, long‐term care; Med wards, medical wards; N, number of people; n/N, number of heel ulcers/number of people; Neuro, neurorehabilitation; OR, operating room; P, purchase; P/R, purchase/rent; Pop, population; Ref, References; SHM, standard hospital mattress; SHP, standard hospital pillow; SL, Single‐layer air cell overlay; SRC, standard routine care; Surg/Ortho, Surgery/orthopaedics; TS, turning schedule; USA, United States of America; UK, United Kingdom.