Frequency and risk factors of pressure ulcer in clinical settings of affiliated to Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: The pressure ulcer is considered a common and costly problem in the care of patients. The incidence of pressure ulcer is a key indicator in nursing care and as a major clinical problem in health care delivery. Prevention and identification of risk factors for pressure ulcer are very important due to the high cost of treatment and the adverse consequences of pressure ulcer. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of pressure ulcers and its risk factors in clinical settings of affiliated to Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.Methods: This is a descriptive-analytical study that was performed on 200 patients who were selected by random sampling. Data collection tool was a 3-part questionnaire. The first part was the demographic, medical and demographic data form, the second part was the skin examination form to determine the degree and location of the pressure ulcer, and the third part was the Braden predictive scale. Data were analyzed using a t-test, chi-square, Fisher exact test and logistic regression in SPSS v. 24.Results: The mean age of the participants was 51.93 ± 14.99 years. The rate of pressure ulcer in this study was 19.5%. The most susceptible area for pressure ulcer was sacral (12%), gluteal (7%) and heel (3.5%), respectively. The pressure ulcer was significantly associated with Braden criteria, age, edema, disease diagnosis and length of stay (P <0.05). But there was no statistically significant difference between sex and incidence of pressure ulcer (P > 0.05).Conclusion: The results of the study showed that risk factors in the studied centers included old age, immobility caused by fractures and spinal trauma, decreased sensory perception, increased skin moisture, inappropriate nutrition, decreased activity and mobility, increased friction and abrasion. Therefore, using a standard patient assessment method and considering the causes of pressure ulcers can be effective in identifying patients at risk and providing appropriate care plans and reducing the incidence of pressure ulcers.

Keywords:

Pressure Ulcer , Risk Factors , Braden Scale