Factors Influencing the Development of Pressure Ulcers in Surgical Patients

Park, Hyoung Sook; Park, Kyung Yeon; Yu, Sung Mi

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the influencing factors on the development of pressure ulcers in patients undergoing surgery which lasted more than two hours. METHOD: One hundred nineteen surgical adult patients were included in the study. Data was measured on each participant from December 2003 to February 2004. It was collected using a structured researcher-administered sheet and analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. RESULT: The prevalence of a perioperative pressure ulcer was 26.1%. The level of moisture, friction and shear, length of surgery, and perioperative irrigation were significantly higher in the pressure ulcer group than those in the non-pressure ulcer group. The level of activity and level of consciousness were significantly lower in the pressure ulcer group than those in the non-pressure ulcer group. Significant influencing factors on the development of pressure ulcer were 'moisture' and 'irrigation' and those variables explained 23.1% of varience in the development of a pressure ulcer during surgery. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to develop a strategy to prevent pressure ulcer by taking 'moisture' and 'irrigation' into account during the preoperative, perioperative and postoperative period.