Research-Based Evidence

Study 1

The study by Hoviattalab et al., (2015), was primarily conducted in order to establish the sort and the level of the prevention intervention strategies that are conducted by nurses for hospitalized patients who are at a high risk of attaining pressure ulcer. This was based on the fact that evidence based prevention strategies of pressure ulcers have been provided with low record of hospitals adherence.  The study was an observational study that utilized a nonparticipant observational research design in collection of the required data.  The observational study was based on investigating whether the hospitalized patients who hold a risk of having pressure ulcers are given the necessary measures to prevent the occurrence.  The study utilized a population sample of 32 patients who were particularly adults who had or were on the risk of pressure ulcer who were continuously observed during all surgical and medical wards shifts in two major general hospitals (Hoviattalab et al., 2015).

Based on the study, it was established that the hospitals were utilizing a collection of prevention measures in line with the medical standards as observed. The most utilized preventive measures were particularly patient’s minimization exposure to moisture and patients cleaning. These measures were particularly undertaken to more than 90% of the patient’s population in both hospitals.  The least utilized measures were relative and patient’s education, evaluation and nutritional status recording (Hoviattalab et al., 2015).

However the study was limited by time as well as accuracy because it was primarily based on observation.  In addition the study was based on limited data sample thus requiring more justification of the findings. This would have resulted in few errors but the findings cannot therefore be doubted.  The conclusion of the study shows that preventive pressure ulcers measures were not implemented fully thus highlighting for the necessity of further research.  This is to establish the challenges that hinder hospitals from utilizing the measures fully (Hoviattalab et al., 2015).

Study 2

The study by Banks et al., (2013), was mainly purposed for the estimation of the economic impacts of the use of nutrition intervention to patients who are at a risk of having pressure ulcer while receiving standard care in hospitals.  The study utilized statistical methods that were created in order to present a prediction of the avoided cases of pressure ulcers, the number of days that the patients spent on their beds and the general economic cost.  This was conducted for the public hospitals located in Australia Queensland between the year 2002 and the year 2003. The study utilized input parameters that were specified with adequate distribution probability fitting (Banks et al., 2013). This was conducted  based on the  annual  number of discharges, pressure ulcers rate, pressure ulcer independent impact  based on the stay duration, nutrition support  cost ,  the risk of pressure  ulcer and the intervention that was utilized  in handling the  issue.

The study involved a total of one thousand re-sampled that were conducted expressed as the probability output of distribution. The research model utilized was able to predict 2896 cases of the avoided pressure ulcers cases with an economic saving of approximately 2,869, 529 and bed stays days of 12, 397 full days. These results were based on the utilization of a nutrition pressure ulcer prevention support intervention in comparison with the standard care offered to patients.  The study was however limited to information and recent findings because it was based on the previous prevented pressure ulcer cases.  The study concluded that  nutrition intervention is considered  and predicted  and the most effective in terms  of cost  as a method  of pressure  ulcer  prevention  in  patients at risk (Banks et al., 2013).

Study 3

The study by Roberts et al., (2015), was conducted to investigate nutrition intervention as a pressure ulcers prevention, related conducts as well as the aspects that impacts the intake of nutrition in hospitalized patients who are at a risk of obtaining pressure ulcers.  The study utilized an observational method in collection of the necessary data. Low nutrition intake is a common occurrence in hospitals and thus this is a primary risk factor for having pressure ulcers. However  nutrition  care  conducts that  associates with the  identification as well as the treatment  of  malnutrition has not yet been evaluated among those hospitalized patients who are at a risk  of  having  pressure ulcers.  This study described nutrition care in details as an intervention strategy of hospitalized patients getting pressure ulcers and the factors that hinders the general intake of nutrition within the particular group.  The study was performed within two wards in two distinct hospitals in Australia Queensland (Roberts et al., 2015).

Adult hospitalized patients who were at a risk of obtaining pressure ulcers which is influenced by reduced and monitored mobility were observed 24 hours daily.  This was conducted in order to determine their oral intake on daily basis like intervention, documentation and nutritional screening.  The study additionally used independent t-tests as well as chi-squared testing in analyzing the intake of diet and the core-related nutrition care data.  With the utilization of logic regression to analyze data dietitian referral predictors were established (Roberts et al., 2015).

The study participants were 241. The nutritional screening that was observed was for 142 patients which equaled t0 59%.  In 34% and 71% cases respectively height and weight weighing were documented (Roberts et al., 2015).  69 of the total population of the patients utilized in the study were received for a referral diet (Roberts et al., 2015).  Those that were predicted for referral diets were selected based on long stays at the hospitals and low index mass of the body (Roberts et al., 2015).  On the average nature, patients utilized 72 and 73 percent protein and energy that was provided on average nature.

The study concluded that practices of nutrition care in the inclusion of those that are engaged in nutritional limitation, malnutrition screening on the risks as well as general documentation always seems to be limited to those hospitalized patients at the risk of having pressure ulcers.  A major  proportion of this group of the patient are involved  in inadequate eating of the main meals thus developing the risk of malnutrition  further as well as pressure ulcers (Roberts et al., 2015). The study was limited to information and accuracy because it was based on observation which is associated to errors.

Study 4

The study by Sardo et al., (2015), was conducted  in analyzing  the  Braden  scores scales  as well as sub scores  evaluated  in  hospitalized  adult persons  in the association off their duration stay, diagnosis  and features. The Braden scale is mainly utilized international for the assessment of pressure ulcers as well as the support of preventative interventions implementation by nurses. The study utilized a retrospective design cohort evaluation of electronic health records from the admitted patients in the year 2012.

The study utilized 8147 patients who were linked with gender, age, duration, discharge and the kind of admission that was served (Sardo et al., 2015).  Those that demonstrated low scores from the Braden design were women, older individuals, medical unit’s hospitalization emergency admission and prolonged stay (Sardo et al., 2015).  These results were mainly affected by the rate of mobility activity and nutrition.  The study was however limited to reliability and accuracy because it was conducted on recorded health cases which raised the probability of an occurrence of errors.

The study conclusion showed that one third of the population held high pressure ulcers risk during the admission stage thus resulting in the development of preventive care strategies (Sardo et al., 2015).  It was thus recommended for nurses to pay more attention to aging patients as they held low scores. In addition  pressure  ulcers can be described as  preventable,  and frequent happening among hospitalized  patients and  better intervention  methods such as nutrition and  reduced exposure to moisture would help (Sardo et al., 2015).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            References

Banks, M. D., Graves, N., Bauer, J. D., & Ash, S. (2013). Cost effectiveness of nutrition support in the prevention of pressure ulcer in hospitals. European Journal Of Clinical Nutrition, 67(1), 42-46. doi:10.1038/ejcn.2012.140

Hoviattalab, K., Hashemizadeh, H., D'Cruz, G., Halfens, R. J., & Dassen, T. (2015). Nursing practice in the prevention of pressure ulcers: an observational study of German Hospitals. Journal Of Clinical Nursing, 24(11/12), 1513-1524. doi:10.1111/jocn.12723

Roberts, S., Chaboyer, W., & Desbrow, B. (2015). Nutrition care-related practices and factors affecting nutritional intakes in hospital patients at risk of pressure ulcers. Journal Of Human Nutrition & Dietetics, 28(4), 357-365. doi:10.1111/jhn.12258

Sardo, P., Simões, C., Alvarelhão, J., Costa, C., Simões, C. J., Figueira, J., & ... Melo, E. (2015). Pressure ulcer risk assessment: retrospective analysis of Braden Scale scores in Portuguese hospitalised adult patients. Journal Of Clinical Nursing, 24(21/22), 3165-3176. doi:10.1111/jocn.12927