Abstract
To assess the direct cost of dressings in pressure ulcer treatment. This was a descriptive observational study conducted at an intensive care unit in the Northeast region of Brazil, between November and December 2015. Data were gathered using the Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing and a form to characterize and assess costs. Values in Brazilian reais (BRL) were converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate of USD 0.26/BRL. Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted. The sample consisted of 15 patients with at least stage 2 ulcers. There was a significant reduction in costs with dressing materials between the initial and final assessments (p=0.002), with a mean of USD 11.9 (±7.4). The most common topical treatments used were essential fatty acids and papain. Cost reduction was proportional to the stage of pressure ulcer. The role of nurses in creating evidence-based care plans is crucial to improve care management. Avaliar o custo direto com curativos no tratamento de lesões por pressão. Estudo observacional descritivo, realizado em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva do nordeste do Brasil, de novembro a dezembro de 2015. Foi aplicada a Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing e formulário para caracterização e avaliação de custos. Os valores da moeda brasileira (R$) foram convertidos para a moeda norte-americana (US$) à taxa de US$0,26/R$. Foram realizadas análises univariadas e bivariadas. Compuseram a amostra 15 pacientes com lesões, no mínimo, estágio 2. Houve redução significativa dos custos com materiais de curativos entre as avaliações inicial e final (p=0,002), com média de US$11,9 (±7,4). As terapias tópicas mais frequentes foram ácidos graxos essenciais e papaína. Verificou-se redução de custos proporcional aos estágios das lesões. Enfatiza-se o papel do enfermeiro na elaboração de planos de cuidados baseados em evidências para melhor gerenciamento do cuidado. Evaluar el costo directo de curativos para el tratamiento de lesiones por presión. Estudio observacional descriptivo en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos del noreste de Brasil, de noviembre a diciembre del año 2015. Se aplicó la Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing y formulario para la caracterización y evaluación de los costos. Los valores de la moneda brasileña (Reales- R$) se convirtieron al dólar estadounidense (US$) a razón de $0.26/R$. Se realizaron análisis univariados y bivariados. La muestra consistió en 15 pacientes con lesiones al menos en Etapa 2. Hubo una reducción significativa en el costo de los materiales de curación entre las evaluaciones inicial y final (p=0,002), con un promedio de US$11.9 (±7.4). Los tratamientos tópicos más comunes son los ácidos grasos esenciales y papaína. Se verificó una reducción de los costos proporcional a las etapas de las lesiones. Se hace hincapié en el papel de los enfermeros en el desarrollo de planes de cuidados basados en la evidencia, para una mejor gestión de la atención.
Highlights
Pressure Ulcers (PUs) significantly impact patients, family members and health systems, in that they are recurring, debilitating and negatively impact quality of life by causing pain, suffering, increased length of hospital stay or even death
Classification indicates the level of tissue injury: stage 1, nonblanchable erythema on intact skin; stage 2, partial loss of skin thickness with exposed dermis; stage 3, total loss of skin thickness; stage 4, total loss of skin thickness and tissue loss; nonstageable, when there is nonvisible tissue loss; and deep tissue pressure ulcer, persistent and nonblanchable maroon, brown, or purple discoloration[2]
Audits conducted in public health services have shown that inconsistent wound care management practices and the use of outdated methods contribute to such high costs and ineffective outcomes[3]
Summary
Pressure Ulcers (PUs) significantly impact patients, family members and health systems, in that they are recurring, debilitating and negatively impact quality of life by causing pain, suffering, increased length of hospital stay or even death. They require lasting treatment and are associated with high rates of morbidity, mortality, and costs[1], especially those related to dressings. Treatment for pressure ulcers incurs in high costs for health services, especially stage 3 and 4, as they require a great amount of material and human resources. Audits conducted in public health services have shown that inconsistent wound care management practices and the use of outdated methods contribute to such high costs and ineffective outcomes[3]
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