The effect of repositioning ferquency determined according to body mass index on pressure injury development time: Randomized controlled trial

Objective: This study was carried out to determine the effect of repositioning frequency determined according to body mass index on the development of pressure injuries. Material and Methods: The research was completed with 71 patients in the Aydın Adnan Menderes University Hospital, between July 2022 and January 2023, in Experimental/Randomized Control. Data were collected with a questionnaire prepared by the researchers. Data are descriptive statistics, demographic quantitative data for comparisons between groups Mann Whitney U, Pearson Chi-square, Fisher exact probability test, chi-square test for relationship between categorical variables, Kaplan Meier – Survival Time analyzes for pressure injury development time, for repeated measurements non-parametric Brunner Langer (F1 LD F1 model) method analyzes were used. Results: Socio-demographic characteristics, data on health status, pressure injury development risk assessment scale score, averages of some laboratory findings, and interface pressure values measured from pressure points of patients in the intervention and control groups in intensive care clinics are homogeneously distributed. Pressure injuries developed in 2.70% of the patients in the intervention group and 14.70% of the patients in the control group, the difference between them was not statistically significant (p=0.098). Injury development time was 16 days in the intervention group and 6.00±2.0 days in the control group (earliest 3rd day, latest 8th day), the difference between them was not statistically significant (p=0.137). Pressure injury developed in one underweight, one normal weight, and three obese patient in the control group and one obese patient in the intervention group, the difference between them was statistically significant (p=0.006). The risk of pressure injury development is higher in underweight and obese patients, and less in overweight patients. Pressure injuries developed in the gluteal area and sacrum in the patient in the intervention group, and in the sacrum in 8.8% of the patients in the control group, there was no statistically significant difference between them (p=0.143). Conclusion: It was concluded that the frequency of position changes should be done with a personalized program for each patient, not at routine two-hour intervals, and the risk of pressure injury development is higher in low-weight and obese patients, while it is less in overweight patients.