Outcomes from a Heel Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program

摘要

In hospitalized patients, heels are the second most common site on the body for pressure ulcers to develop. The prevalence of pressure ulcers has risen from 19% to 30%. The cost of healing a pressure ulcer averages $11,000. This study compared the effects of three pressure-reduction devices on preventing heel ulcers for moderate-to-high-risk patients (determined by the Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk score = 14, Braden, 1989). Analyses examined cost-effectiveness and relationships between factors that predispose patients to pressure ulcers. Research questions were: (1) What is the incidence of heel pressure ulcers in hospitalized acutely-ill patients. (2) Are characteristics different between subjects who do and who do not develop pressure ulcers. (3) What factors predict who will or will not develop pressure ulcers. (4) Which of the three devices is most cost effective. 5) Do patient characteristics play a role in predicting the clinical outcome.