Abstract
Although pressure ulcers are a prevalent condition, pain associated with pressure ulcers is not fully understood. Indeed, previous studies do not shed light on the association between pressure ulcer stages and the experience of pain. Especially, pain characteristics of suspected deep tissue injury, which is a new category that was recently added by the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, are yet unknown. This is concerning because the incidence of pressure ulcers in hospitalized patients has increased exponentially over the last two decades, and health care providers are struggling to ensure providing adequate care. Thus, in order to facilitate the development of effective interventions, this paper presents a conceptual framework to explore pressure ulcer pain in hospitalized patients. The concepts were derived from a biopsychosocial model of pain, and the relationships among each concept were identified through a literature review. Major propositions are presented based on the proposed conceptual framework, which integrates previous research on pressure ulcer pain, to ultimately improve understanding of pain in hospitalized patients with pressure ulcers.
Highlights
Pressure ulcers are a significant and highly prevalent health care problem in the United States, especially among hospitalized patients
Concepts of pain experiences and the relationships between concepts were derived from the Concepts of pain experiences and the relationships between concepts were derived from the biopsychosocial model of pain
Concepts are psychological, and biological factors, which may moderate themoderate pain associated with pressure sociocultural, psychological, and biological factors, which may the pain associated with ulcers
Summary
Pressure ulcers are a significant and highly prevalent health care problem in the United States, especially among hospitalized patients. Pressure ulcers affected 503,300 hospitalized patients and cost more than $11 billion in 2006 alone [1]. The incidence of hospital acquired pressure ulcers was 4.5% between 2006 and 2007 [2], and the costs of hospitalization for Stage III and IV pressure ulcers was $43,180 per case [3]. In response to the incidence and rising costs, in 2008 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) identified advanced pressure ulcers acquired during hospitalization as preventable conditions, rendering hospitals unable to receive Medicare payments or private insurance reimbursement for the care of patients with advanced stages of pressure ulcers [4]. Despite decreasing incidence and costs of hospital acquired pressure ulcers, this improvement reflects only a short term period
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
