WHS guidelines for the treatment of pressure ulcers-2023 update.

The major populations at risk for developing pressure ulcers are older adults who have multiple risk factors that increase their vulnerability, people who are critically ill and those with spinal cord injury/disease. The reported prevalence of pressure ulcers in the United States is 2.5 million. However, this estimate is derived from acute care facilities and does not include people who are living at home or in nursing facilities. Despite the implementation of hospital and facility-based preventive measures, the incidence of pressure ulcers has not decreased in decades. In addition to the burden of pain, infection and death, it is estimated that hospital-acquired pressure ulcers cost the health system $26.8 billion annually with over 50% of the cost attributed to treating Stage 3 and 4 pressure injuries. Thus, it is critical to examine the literature and develop guidelines that will improve the outcomes of this complex and costly condition. This guideline update is a compendium of the best available evidence for the treatment of Pressure Ulcers published since the last update in 2015 and includes a new section based on changing demographics entitled 'Palliative wound care for seriously ill patients with pressure ulcers'. The overall goal of the Wound Healing Society Guideline project is to present clear, concise and commercial free guidelines that clinicians can use to guide care, that researchers can use to develop studies that will improve treatment and that both clinicians and researchers can use to understand the gaps in our knowledge base.

Can Artificial Intelligence Chatbots Improve Mental Health?: A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression, are the leading causes of global health-related burden and have increased dramatically since the 1990s. Delivering mental healthcare using artificial intelligence chatbots may be one option for closing the gaps in mental healthcare access. The overall aim of this scoping review was to describe the use, efficacy, and advantages/disadvantages of using an artificial intelligence chatbot for mental healthcare (stress, anxiety, depression). METHODS: PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases were searched. When possible, Medical Subject Headings terms were searched in combination with keywords. Two independent reviewers reviewed a total of 5768 abstracts. RESULTS: Fifty-four articles were chosen for further review, with 10 articles included in the final analysis. Regarding quality assessment, the overall quality of the evidence was lower than expected. Overall, most studies showed positive trends in improving anxiety, stress, and depression. DISCUSSION: Overall, using an artificial intelligence chatbot for mental health has some promising effects. However, many studies were done using rudimentary versions of artificial intelligence chatbots. In addition, lack of guardrails and privacy issues were identified. More research is needed to determine the effectiveness of artificial intelligence chatbots and to describe undesirable effects.

Empowering Faculty to Incorporate Large Language Models in Nursing Education Using a Delegation Framework.

ABSTRACT: Large language models (LLMs) can support nursing education but pose questions of validity, reliability, and ethical use. This article proposes using the five rights of nursing delegation framework by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing to teach nursing students about the appropriate use of LLMs in health care and nursing education. Nursing faculty can teach students how to assess the validity and reliability of the information provided by LLMs, document its use, and reference and cite information appropriately.

Movement and Pressure Injury Prevention Care for Nursing Home Residents: Addressing the Nescience.

OBJECTIVE: To compare movement associated with position changes among nursing home residents who remain in lying versus upright positions for more than 2 hours and among residents living with obesity, dementia, or neither condition. METHODS: The authors conducted a descriptive exploratory study using secondary data (N = 934) from the Turn Everyone And Move for Ulcer Prevention (TEAM-UP) clinical trial to examine transient movements (<60 seconds) within prolonged periods of 2 to 5 hours without repositioning. RESULTS: Nursing home residents exhibit significantly more episodic transient movements when upright than lying. Residents with obesity or dementia exhibited similar frequencies of episodic transient movements compared with residents with neither obesity nor dementia. Upright or lying movements were more frequent among residents with obesity than among those with neither obesity nor dementia selectively when prolonged events ranged from 2 to 4 hours. Pairwise comparisons of movement rates among resident subgroups (living with obesity, living with dementia, or neither group) across repositioning intervals showed episodic transient movements were significantly higher across all subgroups for repositioning intervals up to 3 hours when compared with repositioning intervals of greater than 3 hours. CONCLUSIONS: Findings challenge assumptions that nursing home residents are inactive and at risk for prolonged sitting. These preliminary findings, along with TEAM-UP findings where no pressure injuries occurred in up to 5 hours in prolonged positions, support establishing a standard 3-hour repositioning interval with use of high-density mattresses without a negative impact on pressure injury occurrence. There should be caution when considering repositioning intervals greater than 3 hours. Further research is indicated to explore protective effect of episodic transient movements of other subgroups.

Dementia and Postoperative Delirium in Surgical Hip Fracture Patients: Unveiling Contrasting Risk Factors and Implications.

Postoperative delirium is a serious complication, particularly in older adults with hip fractures. Using the 2019 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data file, we performed multiple regression analyses to compare risk factors for postoperative delirium in hip fracture patients with and without dementia. Preoperative delirium and mobility aid use were common risk factors in both groups. However, differential effects were observed for other factors. Pathological fracture increased delirium risk in patients with dementia but had a protective effect in those without dementia. In patients with dementia, American Society of Anesthesiology score IV/V was identified as a risk factor, whereas advanced age, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, weight loss, sepsis, elevated international normalized ratio, and serum creatinine level were additional risk factors in patients without dementia. These findings enhance our understanding of the complex relationship among dementia, hip fractures, and postoperative delirium. Identifying specific risk factors for each group can inform tailored interventions and preventive strategies. Further research is needed to validate and expand these findings, ultimately improving care and outcomes. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 49(12), 25-30.].

Characteristics of Nursing Home Resident Movement Patterns: Results from the TEAM-UP Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine movement patterns of nursing home residents, specifically those with dementia or obesity, to improve repositioning approaches to pressure injury (PrI) prevention. METHODS: A descriptive exploratory study was conducted using secondary data from the Turn Everyone And Move for Ulcer Prevention (TEAM-UP) clinical trial examining PrI prevention repositioning intervals. K-means cluster analysis used the average of each resident's multiple days' observations of four summary mean daily variables to create homogeneous movement pattern clusters. Growth mixture models examined movement pattern changes over time. Logistic regression analyses predicted resident and nursing home cluster group membership. RESULTS: Three optimal clusters partitioned 913 residents into mutually exclusive groups with significantly different upright and lying patterns. The models indicated stable movement pattern trajectories across the 28-day intervention period. Cluster profiles were not differentiated by residents with dementia (n = 450) or obesity (n = 285) diagnosis; significant cluster differences were associated with age and Braden Scale total scores or risk categories. Within clusters 2 and 3, residents with dementia were older (P < .0001) and, in cluster 2, were also at greater PrI risk (P < .0001) compared with residents with obesity; neither group differed in cluster 1. CONCLUSIONS: Study results determined three movement pattern clusters and advanced understanding of the effects of dementia and obesity on movement with the potential to improve repositioning protocols for more effective PrI prevention. Lying and upright position frequencies and durations provide foundational knowledge to support tailoring of PrI prevention interventions despite few significant differences in repositioning patterns for residents with dementia or obesity.

Movement Patterns of Transient and Prolonged Positioning Events in Nursing Home Residents: Results from the TEAM-UP Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize transient and prolonged body position patterns in a large sample of nursing home (NH) residents and describe the variability in movement patterns based on time of occurrence. METHODS: This study is a descriptive, exploratory analysis of up to 28 days of longitudinal accelerometer data for 1,100 NH residents from the TEAM-UP (Turn Everyone and Move for Ulcer Prevention) clinical trial. Investigators analyzed rates of transient events (TEs; less than 60 seconds) and prolonged events (PEs; 60 seconds or longer) and their interrelationships by nursing shift. RESULTS: Residents' positions changed for at least 1 minute (PEs) nearly three times per hour. Shorter-duration movements (TEs) occurred almost eight times per hour. Residents' PE rates were highest in shift 2 (3 pm to 11 pm ), when the median duration and maximum lengths of PEs were lowest; the least active time of day was shift 3 (11 pm to 7 am ). Three-quarters of all PEs lasted less than 15 minutes. The rate of TEs within PEs decreased significantly as the duration of PEs increased. CONCLUSIONS: The NH residents demonstrate complex patterns of movements of both short and prolonged duration while lying and sitting. Findings represent how NH residents naturally move in real-world conditions and provide a new set of metrics to study tissue offloading and its role in pressure injury prevention.

Effect of Varying Repositioning Frequency on Pressure Injury Prevention in Nursing Home Residents: TEAM-UP Trial Results.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effectiveness of three nursing-home-wide repositioning intervals (2-, 3-, or 4-hour) without compromising pressure injury (PrI) incidence in 4 weeks. METHODS: An embedded pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in nine nursing homes (NHs) that were randomly assigned to one of three repositioning intervals. Baseline (12 months) and 4-week intervention data were provided during the TEAM-UP (Turn Everyone And Move for Ulcer Prevention) study. Intervention residents were without current PrIs, had PrI risk (Braden Scale score) ≥10 (not severe risk), and used viable 7-inch high-density foam mattresses. Each arm includes three NHs with an assigned single repositioning interval (2-, 3-, or 4-hour) as standard care during the intervention. A wireless patient monitoring system, using wearable single-use patient sensors, cued nursing staff by displaying resident repositioning needs on conveniently placed monitors. The primary outcome was PrI incidence; the secondary outcome was staff repositioning compliance fidelity. RESULTS: From May 2017 to October 2019, 1,100 residents from nine NHs were fitted with sensors; 108 of these were ineligible for some analyses because of missing baseline data. The effective sample size included 992 residents (mean age, 78 ± 13 years; 63% women). The PrI incidence during the intervention was 0.0% compared with 5.24% at baseline, even though intervention resident clinical risk scores were significantly higher (P < .001). Repositioning compliance for the 4-hour repositioning interval (95%) was significantly better than for the 2-hour (80%) or 3-hour (90%) intervals (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that current 2-hour protocols can be relaxed for many NH residents without compromising PrI prevention. A causal link was not established between repositioning interval treatments and PrI outcome; however, no new PrIs developed. Compliance improved as repositioning interval lengthened.

Hospital acquired pressure injury prediction in surgical critical care patients.

BACKGROUND: Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPrIs) are areas of damage to the skin occurring among 5-10% of surgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients. HAPrIs are mostly preventable; however, prevention may require measures not feasible for every patient because of the cost or intensity of nursing care. Therefore, recommended standards of practice include HAPrI risk assessment at routine intervals. However, no HAPrI risk-prediction tools demonstrate adequate predictive validity in the ICU population. The purpose of the current study was to develop and compare models predicting HAPrIs among surgical ICU patients using electronic health record (EHR) data. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we obtained data for patients admitted to the surgical ICU or cardiovascular surgical ICU between 2014 and 2018 via query of our institution's EHR. We developed predictive models utilizing three sets of variables: (1) variables obtained during routine care + the Braden Scale (a pressure-injury risk-assessment scale); (2) routine care only; and (3) a parsimonious set of five routine-care variables chosen based on availability from an EHR and data warehouse perspective. Aiming to select the best model for predicting HAPrIs, we split each data set into standard 80:20 train:test sets and applied five classification algorithms. We performed this process on each of the three data sets, evaluating model performance based on continuous performance on the receiver operating characteristic curve and the F1 score. RESULTS: Among 5,101 patients included in analysis, 333 (6.5%) developed a HAPrI. F1 scores of the five classification algorithms proved to be a valuable evaluation metric for model performance considering the class imbalance. Models developed with the parsimonious data set had comparable F1 scores to those developed with the larger set of predictor variables. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study show the feasibility of using EHR data for accurately predicting HAPrIs and that good performance can be found with a small group of easily accessible predictor variables. Future study is needed to test the models in an external sample.

Angiosomal Vascular Occlusions, Deep-Tissue Pressure Injuries, and Competing Theories: A Case Report.

ABSTRACT: Compression of the soft tissue between a support surface and a bony prominence has long been the accepted primary mechanism of pressure injury (PrI) formation, with the belief that said compression leads to capillary occlusion, ischemia, and tissue necrosis. This explanation presupposes an "outside-in" pathophysiologic process of tissue damage originating at the local capillary level. Despite advances in prevention protocols, there remains a stubbornly consistent incidence of severe PrIs including deep-tissue injuries, the latter usually evolving into stage 4 PrIs with exposed bone or tendon. This article presents just such a perioperative case with the aim of providing further evidence that these more severe PrIs may result from ischemic insults of a named vessel within specific vascular territories (labeled as angiosomes). Pressure is indeed a factor in the formation of severe PrIs, but these authors postulate that the occlusion occurred at the level of a named artery proximal to the lesion. This vascular event was likely attributable to low mean arterial pressure. The authors suggest that the terminology proposed three decades ago to call both deep-tissue injuries and stage 4 PrIs "vascular occlusion pressure injuries" should be the topic of further research and expert consensus.

Subsequent Pressure Injury Development in Mechanically Ventilated Critical Care Patients with Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injury: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with subsequent hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPrI) formation among patients in surgical and cardiovascular surgical ICUs with an initial HAPrI. METHODS: Patients admitted to a level 1 trauma center and academic medical center in the Western US between 2014 and 2018 were eligible for this retrospective cohort study. Inclusion criteria were development of an HAPrI stage 2 or above, age older than 18 years, the use of mechanical ventilation for at least 24 hours, and documentation of a risk-based HAPrI-prevention plan including repositioning at least every 2 hours. The primary outcome measure was development of a second, subsequent HAPrI stage 2 or higher. Potential predictor variables included demographic factors, shock, Charleston comorbidity score, blood gas and laboratory values, surgical factors, vasopressor infusions, levels of sedation or agitation, Braden Scale scores, and nursing skin assessment data. RESULTS: The final sample consisted of 226 patients. Among those, 77 (34%) developed a second HAPrI. Independent risk factors for subsequent HAPrI formation were decreased hemoglobin (odds ratio, 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53-0.92; P < .000), vasopressin infusion (odds ratio, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.17-4.26; P = .02), and longer length of stay in the ICU (odds ratio, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00-1.02; P = .009). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with an HAPrI are at high risk of subsequent HAPrI development. Anemia, vasopressin infusion, and longer ICU stays are independent risk factors for repeat HAPrI formation.

Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injury Development Among Surgical Critical Care Patients Admitted With Community-Acquired Pressure Injury: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: Community-acquired pressure injuries (CAPIs) are present among approximately 3% to 8% of patients admitted to acute care hospitals. In the critical care population, little is known about hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) development among patients with CAPIs because most studies exclude patients with CAPIs. The purpose of our study was to determine the incidence of HAPI development and the associated risk factors among surgical critical care patients with CAPIs. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: We used electronic health record data from adult critical care patients admitted to the surgical and cardiovascular surgical intensive care units (ICUs) at a level 1 trauma center and academic medical center between 2014 and 2018. METHODS: Univariate analysis was used to compare patients with CAPIs who developed a HAPI and those who did not, as well as logistic regression analysis to identify independent risk factors for HAPIs among patients with CAPIs. RESULTS: Among 5101 patients admitted to 2 surgical critical care units, 167 (3%) patients were admitted with CAPIs. Hospital-acquired pressure injuries were 4 times more common among patients with CAPIs compared to patients without CAPIs. Among the 167 patients with CAPIs, 47 patients (28%) went on to also develop a HAPI, whereas in the 4934 patients without CAPIs, 352 patients (7%) went on to develop a HAPI. Findings from the multivariate logistic regression analysis (n = 151) showed that decreased serum albumin (odds ratio [OR] = 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.25-0.85; P = .02) and excessively dry skin (OR = 2.6; 95% CI, 1.1-6.22; P = .03) were independent predictors of HAPI development among patients admitted with CAPIs. CONCLUSIONS: Results from our study show that patients with CAPIs are at high risk for developing a HAPI, particularly among patients with decreased serum albumin or excessively dry skin. Patients with excessively dry skin may benefit from the application of skin moisturizers.

Risk factors for falls in homebound community-dwelling older adults.

OBJECTIVE: To examine risk factors associated with falls among homebound community-dwelling older adults, a vulnerable population often possessing functional disabilities and chronic conditions. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: The study was a cross-sectional study utilizing round 6 data of the National Health and Aging Trend Study (NHATS). Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted. A total of 1,356 homebound community-dwelling older adults aged 65 and above participated in the NHATS. MEASURES: The outcome variable was falls within the last month reported in NHATS. Independent variables were selected based on the NHATS disability conceptual model and literature review, including personal conditions, environmental conditions, and physical functioning limitations. RESULTS: In the sample population, 21.2% reported falls. Males were more likely to experience a fall than females. Hypertension or depression/anxiety increased risk for falls. Older adults with hearing impairment or balance problems limiting activities were also more likely to fall. CONCLUSIONS: Public health nurses need to conduct thorough fall risk assessment for homebound older adults, especially those with chronic health problems or functioning limitations. Studies are needed to examine the association between home environment and falls in homebound older adults.

A Comprehensive Assessment of Risk Factors for Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Falls in community-dwelling older adults are a complicated phenomenon that are attributed to sociodemographic characteristics, health conditions, functional problems, and environmental factors. The current cross-sectional and correlational study aimed to explore comprehensive risk factors for falls in community-dwelling older adults using a nationally representative data file (N = 5,930). Descriptive statistics were used and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. Study findings showed that homebound or semi-homebound older adults were 50% more likely to experience a fall than non-homebound individuals. Impaired balance was the strongest predictor (odds ratio [OR] = 2.37, p < 0.001), followed by problems moving around in the home. Arthritis (OR = 1.39, p = 0.009) and depression or anxiety (OR = 1.28, p = 0.013) were additional risk factors. Community health or home health nurses need to assess these risk factors when planning fall intervention programs for older adults using evidence-based prevention strategies. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 44(10), 40-48.].

Midrange Braden Subscale Scores Are Associated With Increased Risk for Pressure Injury Development Among Critical Care Patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between pressure injury development and the Braden Scale for Pressure Sore Risk subscale scores in a surgical intensive care unit (ICU) population and to ascertain whether the risk represented by the subscale scores is different between older and younger patients. DESIGN: Retrospective review of electronic medical records. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: The sample comprised patients admitted to the ICU at an academic medical center in the Western United States (Utah) and Level 1 trauma center between January 1, 2008 and May 1, 2013. Analysis is based on data from 6377 patients. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was used to determine Braden Scale total and subscale scores, age, and incidence of pressure injury development. We used survival analysis to determine the hazards of developing a pressure injury associated with each subscale of the Braden Scale, with the lowest-risk category as a reference. In addition, we used time-dependent Cox regression with natural cubic splines to model the interaction between age and Braden Scale scores and subscale scores in pressure injury risk. RESULTS: Of the 6377 ICU patients, 214 (4%) developed a pressure injury (stages 2-4, deep tissue injury, or unstageable) and 516 (8%) developed a hospital-acquired pressure injury of any stage. With the exception of the friction and shear subscales, regardless of age, individuals with scores in the intermediate-risk levels had the highest likelihood of developing pressure injury. CONCLUSION: The relationship between age, Braden Scale subscale scores, and pressure injury development varied among subscales. Maximal preventive efforts should be extended to include individuals with intermediate Braden Scale subscale scores, and age should be considered along with the subscale scores as a factor in care planning.

Pressure Injury Risk Assessment and Prevention in Patients With COVID-19 in the Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: Patients critically ill with COVID-19 are at risk for hospital-acquired pressure injury, including device-related pressure injury. METHODS: Braden Scale predictive validity was compared between patients with and without COVID-19, and a logistic regression model was developed to identify risk factors for device-related pressure injury. RESULTS: A total of 1920 patients were included in the study sample, including 407 with COVID-19. Among the latter group, at least 1 hospital-acquired pressure injury developed in each of 120 patients (29%); of those, device-related pressure injury developed in 55 patients (46%). The Braden Scale score area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.72 in patients without COVID-19 and 0.71 in patients with COVID-19, indicating fair to poor discrimination. CONCLUSIONS: Fragile skin and prone positioning during mechanical ventilatory support were risk factors for device-related pressure injury. Clinicians may consider incorporating factors not included in the Braden Scale (eg, oxygenation and perfusion) in routine risk assessment and should maintain vigilance in their efforts to protect patients with COVID-19 from device-related pressure injury.

Nursing Assessment of Pressure Injury Risk with the Braden Scale Validated against Sensor-Based Measurement of Movement.

Nursing staff assessment to accurately identify pressure injury (PrI) risk is a hallmark in PrI prevention care. Risk scores from the Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk© (hereafter Braden), a commonly used tool for assessing PrI risk, signal the need for preventative care. Braden Mobility, Activity, and Sensory Perception subscale subgroups associated with repositioning movement features help identify preventative strategies that minimize pressure intensity and duration. Evidence confirming subscale rating accuracy is needed. This study compared assessment score accuracy with movement data collected via accelerometer sensor. Sample included 913 nursing home residents from the Turn Everyone and Move for Pressure Ulcer Prevention (TEAM-UP) cluster randomized trial. Movements and Braden Mobility and Activity subscale scores were evaluated for significant differences and associations. Mobility subgroups explained a small-medium amount of variance in mean lying and upright movement features (0.002 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.195). Activity subgroups explained a small-medium amount of variance in mean lying, upright, and ambulating movements (0.016 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.248). Significant associations occurred among subscale subgroups and most movements. Nursing assessment ratings using Braden scale's Mobility and Activity subscale scores are accurate indicators of actual repositioning movements and can be relied upon for PrI prevention care planning for older adults.