Use of pressure-redistributing support surfaces among elderly hip fracture patients across the continuum of care: adherence to pressure ulcer prevention guidelines

Purpose: To estimate the frequency of use of pressure-redistributing support surfaces (PRSS) among hip fracture patients and to determine whether higher pressure ulcer risk is associated with greater PRSS use. Design and Methods: Patients (n = 658) aged ≥65 years who had surgery for hip fracture were examined by research nurses at baseline and on alternating days for 21 days. Information on PRSS use and pressure ulcer risk factors was recorded at each assessment visit. Other information was obtained by interview and chart review. Results: A PRSS was observed at 36.4% of the 5,940 study visits. The odds of PRSS use were lower in the rehabilitation setting (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.3–0.6), in the nursing home (adjusted OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1–0.3), and during readmission to the acute setting (adjusted OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4–0.9) than in the initial acute setting. There was wide variation in frequency of PRSS use by admission hospital, even after adjusting for pressure ulcer risk factors. The relationships between PRSS use and pressure ulcer risk factors were not strong. Implications: In this study of hip fracture patients, adherence to guidelines for PRSS use was low and was based more on facility-related factors than on patient risk. There is an urgent need for health care providers to improve strategies for the prevention of pressure ulcers in high-risk patients.