Article Text
PDF
Statistics from Altmetric.com
OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
Q What is the relative cost effectiveness of alternating pressure mattresses and alternating pressure overlays for preventing pressure ulcers in hospital patients with limited mobility?
METHODS
Design:
randomised controlled trial (RCT).
Setting:
10 hospitals in the UK.
Patients:
1972 patients ⩾55 years of age (mean age 75 y, 64% women) admitted to vascular, orthopaedic, medical, or elderly care wards in the previous 24 hours, with an expected hospital stay of ⩾7 days and limited activity and mobility (Braden scores of 1 or 2) or existing grade 2 pressure ulcer. Elective surgical patients were included if they were expected to have limited mobility for ⩾3 days postoperatively. Exclusion criteria included ⩾ grade 3 pressure ulcer, planned admission to intensive care ward after surgery, sleeping at night in a chair, and weight <45 kg or >140 kg.
Intervention:
alternating pressure overlay (n = 990) or alternating pressure mattress (n = 982) for duration of ward stay or until mobility improved to a Braden score of 3 or …