PREVENTION OF HOSPITAL ACQUIRED PRESSURE ULCERS: A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL.

Funding Activity

Website
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/129100

Funding Status
Closed

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Funded Activity Summary

Pressure ulcers are frequently encountered in hospitalised patients. Several factors such as immobility, poor circulation, malnutrition and aging skin and tissue, along with pressure, moisture and friction (shear) from hospital bedding, contribute to their development. Pressure ulcers usually occur over bony prominences. Here, internal tissue pressures are most intense where the skin contacts the supporting surface. The principles for efficient prevention of pressure ulcers are to reduce pressure on the classic ulcer sites, interrupt the pressure frequently, keep the stressed area dry, and provide a low friction cushioning interface between the patient and bed. Sheepskins have been claimed to be of value in the prevention of pressure ulcers. The therapeutic value is believed to be due to the pressure relieving properties of the dense woolpile, the moisture absorbing properties of the wool and the low friction at the wool-tip surface. The CSIRO Leather Research Centre has facilitated the development of an Australian Standard for Medical Sheepskins. In his address at the launch of this Standard (July 1997), Dr Michael Wooldridge, Federal Minister for Health, stated that pressure ulcers would cost the Australian health system over $350M in that year. To unequivocally establish the efficacy of sheepskins in preventing the onset of pressure ulcers, and to meet the present requirements for evidence based medicine, a rigorous Randomised Controlled Trial is essential. CSIRO, in conjunction with the Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne School of Postgraduate Nursing, Deakin University and Fremantle Hospital, plan to undertake a study into the prevention of hospital acquired pressure ulcers comparing the efficacy of two mattress covers: sheepskin overlays and the standard hospital sheet and mattress with or without other low technological constant pressure supports.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2000

End Date: 01-01-2001

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $195,652.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Cancer diagnosis

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

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Other Keywords

Acute care | Decubitus ulcers | Hospital acquired pressure ulcers | Immobility | Preventive nursing interventions | Randomised controlled trial

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