Abstract
BackgroundOne of the most common orthopedic problems is the incidence of pressure ulcer followed by immobility. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Aloe Vera gel on the prevention of pressure ulcer in patients hospitalized in the orthopedic ward.MethodThis study is a randomized, triple-blind clinical trial which was done on 80 purposefully selected patients in orthopedic ward in Arak town, Iran, 2016. Patients were randomly assigned into two intervention and control groups based on blocking sampling method. In each group the routine daily cares to prevent bed sores were performed by nurses. In the intervention group in addition to routine nursing care to prevent bed sores, twice a day (hours of 9 and 21) pure Aloe Vera gel on the areas of hip, sacrum and heel were rubbed, but in the control group placebo (gel of water and starch) were used. Then sacral, hip and heel of both groups on days 3, 7 and 10 for of signs of pressure ulcers was evaluated.ResultsThe mean age of patients in the control group was (42.34 ± 12.19) and in the intervention group Was (41.71 ± 11.50) years, respectively. In the intervention group 1 patient afflicted with sore of hip and two people with sacral pressure ulcer. In the control group 3 patients affiliated with sore of hip, 8 people with sacral pressure ulcer, and 1 person had pressure sore of heel. Analysis of the data showed that both groups had statistically significant differences in the incidence of pressure ulcers (P = 0.047). This means that Aloe Vera gel could prevent the occurrence of pressure ulcers in the intervention group.ConclusionDue to the effect of Aloe Vera gel to prevent a rise in temperature, non-blanchable redness, swelling and pain of the skin of regions under study in hospitalized patients in the orthopedic ward, applying of it toward the prevention of pressure ulcers in patients at risk of pressure ulcer development is recommended.Trial registrationThis study was registered in Iranian Registry of Clinical. Trials in 07/09/2016 with the IRCT ID: IRCT2016051027825N1.
Highlights
One of the most common orthopedic problems is the incidence of pressure ulcer followed by immobility
This means that Aloe Vera gel could prevent the occurrence of pressure ulcers in the intervention group
Due to the effect of Aloe Vera gel to prevent a rise in temperature, non-blanchable redness, swelling and pain of the skin of regions under study in hospitalized patients in the orthopedic ward, applying of it toward the prevention of pressure ulcers in patients at risk of pressure ulcer development is recommended
Summary
One of the most common orthopedic problems is the incidence of pressure ulcer followed by immobility. The prevalence of pressure ulcers in hospitals in Spain is reported 3.8%, France 9.8%, Germany 2.10%, Portugal 5.12%, Jordan 12%, Ireland 5.18%, Belgium 1.21%, Denmark 22.7%, Sudan, 23%, China 58.1%, Netherlands 3.4%, Austria 0.5%, Switzerland 2.1%, Iran 5% in the public sector and 1.10–21% in the intensive care units [3,4,5,6]. In addition to incurring high financial expenses for health care institutions, pressure ulcers result in consequences such as loss of credibility of the institution and wasting the valuable time of personnel, and increase the density of nursing staff to 50% [10, 11] This complication increases hospital stay for patients from 4 to 31 days more, it is associated with pain, infection, and complications such as stress, delayed wound healing and impaired mental image [9, 12]. The impact of pressure ulcers on quality of life is significant, considering their influence on physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, social and financial dimension of life [13]
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