Barakat-Johnson M, Lai M, Gefen A, Coyer F, et al.
International wound journal. Date of publication 2018 Dec 17;volume ():.
1. Int Wound J. 2018 Dec 17. doi: 10.1111/iwj.13051. [Epub ahead of print]
Evaluation of a fluidised positioner to reduce occipital pressure injuries in
intensive care patients: A pilot study.
Barakat-Johnson M(1)(2), Lai M(3), Gefen A(4), Coyer F(5)(6).
Author information:
(1)Pressure Injury Prevention and Management, Sydney Local Health District,
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
(2)Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine and Health,
University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
(3)Cancer Nursing Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of
Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
(4)Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv
University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
(5)Faculty of Health, School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology and
Intensive Care Services, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland,
Australia.
(6)Critical Care and Clinical Support Services Division, Institute for Skin
Integrity and Infection Prevention, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK.
This pilot study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and feasibility of a
fluidised positioning device to reduce occipital pressure injuries (PIs). A
post-test design with a historical control group was used in a 54-bed intensive
care unit between September 2017 and August 2018. Patients who were receiving
either extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, were mechanically ventilated, or had
raised intracranial pressure (≥20) were recruited. The intervention consisted of
a fluidised positioning device under the patient's head, and a skin assessment
every 8 h. Outcome measures included the occurrence of occipital PIs and
registered nurses (RNs)' perspectives of the intervention. Data collected from
patients in the intervention group were compared with data obtained from the
historical control group between May 2016 and April 2017. Sixty-four patients
were recruited in the intervention phase and 63 were in the historical control
group. Results showed a statistically significant reduction in occipital PIs by
87.7% (16/63; 25.4% historical control vs 2/64; 3.13% interventional group).
Bedside RNs provided positive evaluation of the fluidised positioning device. The
findings demonstrate that the fluidised positioning device is a feasible and
effective intervention in reducing the risk of occipital PIs in intensive care
patients, which merits the continuation of use and further evaluation through a
larger-scale study.
© 2018 Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
DOI: 10.1111/iwj.13051
PMID: 30560571
