The Effect of Planned Nursing Care on the Development and Severity of Pressure Ulcers in Elderly Patients: An Interventional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Pressure ulcer is one of the common problems in hospitals, especially in long-stay inpatient departments and intensive care units. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of planned nursing care on the occurrence and severity of pressure ulcers in patients admitted to the intensive care units. Methods: In this interventional study, 80 patients were gradually placed in two control and experimental groups. The participants of the experimental group received the care plan based, while the participants of the control group received only the daily and routine care plan. The rate of pressure ulcer development was evaluated based on the scale of the International Pressure Ulcer Society. The data were analyzed using chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test in SPSS version 16 software. Results: The relative and absolute frequency distribution of the research units according to the presence or absence of pressure ulcers after the intervention showed that pressure ulcers in the experimental group decreased significantly (P≤0.05). Also, the difference in the severity of pressure ulcers in the two groups indicated that the intervention reduced the degree, severity, and depth of pressure ulcers. Conclusion: Carrying out planned care in patients who have a high risk of pressure ulcers will reduce the possibility of pressure ulcers, especially with high severity and degree. Therefore, applying the principles of pressure ulcer prevention by the care team is emphasized and recommended for patients who are not able to do this themselves.