Abstract
Objective: To identify the prevalence of skin injuries in hospitalized elderly. Method: Cross-sectional study with 202 elderly patients selected for convenience and hospitalized in a hospital in Parana (Brazil). Data were collected between September 2017 and January 2018. The Mini-mental State Examination and the physical examination of nursing in the elderly were used. Data were submitted to the exploratory analysis and described by absolute frequency, percentage, means and standard deviations. Results: Women predominance (51%), age range between 60-69 years (42.5%), married (52%) and low educational level (59.4%). It was identified that 128 (63.4%) elderly had clean scalp; 116(57.4%), skin with normal coloring; 104 (51.5%), normal turgor; 138 (68.3%), normal temperature; 160 (79.2%) of fine thickness; 101 (50%), soft texture; 144 (71.3%) with scar; 182 (90.1%), sensitivity; and 152 (75.3%), pruritus. Prevalence of eutrophic body mass index (38.6%) and 176 (87.1%) elderly had skin injuries; 152 (75.3%) had primary injuries and 151 (74.7%), secondary injuries. Conclusion: The study identified the high index of skin injuries in hospitalized elderly. The results are expected to make nurses aware of the importance of the physical examination of the skin as a fundamental step in planning preventive, monitoring and care actions.
Highlights
The changes that constitute and influence the aging process are complex and this phenomenon is a growing world reality, the health services present numerous challenges to meet the health care needs of this population segment.Psychological, functional and social changes interfere in the aging process, favoring the gradual loss of physiological reserves, the greater risk of contracting diseases and the general decline in the individual’s intrinsic capacity[1]
The importance of the nurse performing the physical examination of the skin in the elderly with the direction of the early detection of injuries, traumas and other pathologies is emphasized, which can accentuate functional limitations, with repercussion for autonomy, independence and quality of life
In view of the above, the objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of skin injuries in the elderly hospitalized in a teaching hospital through physical examination by the nurse
Summary
The changes that constitute and influence the aging process are complex and this phenomenon is a growing world reality, the health services present numerous challenges to meet the health care needs of this population segment.Psychological, functional and social changes interfere in the aging process, favoring the gradual loss of physiological reserves, the greater risk of contracting diseases and the general decline in the individual’s intrinsic capacity[1]. Inadequate nutrition, invasive devices, mechanical strength, excess moisture, diaper use, and physical immobility are risk factors that predispose the appearance of the injuries[3,4], which are characterized as one of the main complications that can affect hospitalized patients[5,6], especially the elderly. This age segment tends to present several pathologies, a condition that contributes to hospitalization, with longer hospital stay and consequent increase in health costs[7]. The importance of the nurse performing the physical examination of the skin in the elderly with the direction of the early detection of injuries, traumas and other pathologies is emphasized, which can accentuate functional limitations, with repercussion for autonomy, independence and quality of life
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