Prevalence of skin tears among frail older adults living in Canadian long-term care facilities.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the prevalence of skin tears in the Canadian long-term care (LTC) population.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING

The setting included 678 residents residing in four LTC facilities in western Canada.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional prevalence study to establish the prevalence of skin tears in four LTC facilities in Canada.

RESULTS

The prevalence of skin tears was 14.7%. Primary associated risk factors included advanced age, being male and having an increased pressure ulcer risk.

CONCLUSION

This study was an important step in establishing the burden of skin tears in the Canadian LTC population. Findings supported the International Skin Tear Advisory Panel (ISTAP) risk reduction programme's claim that increases in age and being of the male sex increase the risk for skin tears. The results support a possible link between skin tear risk factors and risk factors associated with pressure ulcers.