Risk of developing pressure sore in surgical intensive care patients

This descriptive research was conducted to determine the risk of developing pressure sore in surgical intensive care patients. The research was carried out at the intensive care units of the Inonu University Turgut Ozal Medical Center General Surgery, Neurosurgery and Organ Transplantation clinics between January 2013 and January 2015. The study population was all of the hospitalized patients in the above mentioned clinics. The sample of the study comprised the patients meeting the inclusion criteria, selected based on the nonprobability random sampling method. Sample size was calculated by power analysis and then a total of 157 patients were included in the study. Prior to initiation of any research protocols, written approvals were obtained from the Malatya Clinical Research Ethics Committee and the Host Institution Turgut Özal Medical Center. The research data were collected using a Patient Information Form and Braden Risk Assessment Scale. Both data collection tools were administered within the first 24 hours of hospitalization. At 72 hours and 120 hours, the Braden Risk Assessment Scale was administered again to determine the risk of developing pressure sores. The data were analyzed by number, percentage, means, standard deviation, chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis variance analysis. The analyses showed that patients had a moderate risk of developing pressure sores at 24 hours (13.31 ± 2.37) and 72 hours (13.57 ± 3.33) after hospitalization, while at 120 hours, the risk was high (11.90 ± 4.00). 8.9% of patients were at an extremely high risk at 24 hours, 17.1% at 72 hours, and 33.4% at 120 hours. Our findings conclude that patients hospitalized in the surgical intensive care units are at middle and higher risk for pressure sores development. Keywords: Surgical İntensive Care, Pressure Sore, Risk, Nursing, Patient