Predictors of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers among older adult inpatients.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

To provide basic information on the preventive care for pressure ulcer (PU) by analysing PU-related characteristics and identifying PU predictors.

BACKGROUND

The incidence of PUs in hospitals is increasing, and continuous PU management is required. The occurrence of PU was an important standard for hospital certification. There is a need to identify predictors of PUs for proper management of PUs.

DESIGN

This is a descriptive study that analyses the electronic medical records of a university hospital.

METHODS

Of all older adult inpatients aged over 65 years admitted to the hospital (from January 1, 2011-December 31, 2015), 34,287 were included in this study. To identify the PU predictors, a logistic regression analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 24.

RESULTS

Predictors influencing PU were gender (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.03-1.05), age, (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.03-1.05), admission method (OR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.32-0.46), consciousness status (OR = 3.77, 95% CI = 1.83-7.77) and Braden Scale score (OR = 0.07, 95% CI = 0.69-0.72). Among the predictors, consciousness is the most important variable. Patients who are drowsy were 3.77 times more likely to develop PU than those who are alert.

CONCLUSIONS

To prevent and manage PU, the level of consciousness of older adult patients who are hospitalised should be assessed, and appropriate interventions should be provided.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Pressure ulcer-specific interventions should be provided systematically by healthcare providers to those with altered consciousness beginning at hospital admission.