Carville K, Leslie G, Osseiran-Moisson R, Newall N, Lewin G, et al.
International wound journal. Date of publication 2014 Aug 1;volume 11(4):446-53.
1. Int Wound J. 2014 Aug;11(4):446-53. doi: 10.1111/iwj.12326.
The effectiveness of a twice-daily skin-moisturising regimen for reducing the
incidence of skin tears.
Carville K(1), Leslie G, Osseiran-Moisson R, Newall N, Lewin G.
Author information:
(1)Silver Chain Group, Perth, WA,, Australia; School of Nursing and Midwifery,
Curtin University, Perth, WA,, Australia.
A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness
of a twice-daily moisturising regimen as compared to 'usual' skin care for
reducing skin tear incidence. Aged care residents from 14 Western Australian
facilities (980 beds) were invited to participate. The facilities were sorted
into pairs and matched in terms of bed numbers and whether they provided high or
low care. One facility from each matched pair was randomised to the intervention
group. Consenting residents in an intervention facility received a twice-daily
application of a commercially available, standardised pH neutral, perfume-free
moisturiser on their extremities. Residents in the control facilities received ad
hoc or no standardised skin-moisturising regimen. Participant numbers were
sufficient to detect a 5% difference in incidence rate between the two groups
with 80% power and a significance level of P = 0·05, and the inter-cluster
correlation coefficient was 0·034. Data were collected over 6 months. A total of
1396 skin tears on 424 residents were recorded during the study. In the
intervention group, the average monthly incidence rate was 5·76 per 1000 occupied
bed days as compared to 10·57 in the control group. The application of
moisturiser twice daily reduced the incidence of skin tears by almost 50% in
residents living in aged care facilities.
© 2014 The Authors. International Wound Journal © 2014 Medicalhelplines.com Inc
and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
DOI: 10.1111/iwj.12326
PMID: 25040325 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
