Factors associated with pressure ulcers in adults in acute care hospitals.

Abstract

Study aim and objectives. The aim of this analysis is to identify and describe the relationship of factors associated with pressure ulcers, Stage 2 or greater, in adults in acute care hospitals. The objectives are: (1) to develop a model to describe the association of demographic and clinical factors in the presence of pressure ulcers using three years of prevalence data (1993, 1994 & 1995); and (2) sample, namely the 1996 prevalence study. Design. Cross-sectional, prevalence studies. Subjects. All adult inpatients in an acute care, university teaching hospital during one 12 hour day time period. Data were collected mid-week to reflect new admissions, and pre and post-operative cases, and in mid-September to avoid summer and winter seasonal variations. Main outcome measure. Stage 2 or greater pressure ulcers according to the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research Clinical Practice Guidelines, Pressure Ulcers in Adults: Prediction and Prevention (1992) recommendations for staging ulcers. Data collection instruments. Demographic and Clinical Profile Form, Prevalence Grid, and Braden Scale (1987). Sample size. The derivation sample, 1993--95 prevalence studies, included 1,992 subjects and the validation sample, 1996 prevalence study, included 581 subjects. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)