Anti-bedsore MattressesProduced from Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis Fluid Bag

Abstract

Bed sores or pressure sores are an important problem among bed-ridden patients who are disable, paralized or senile. Such conditions affect quality of life of patients and become a burden to family members and health care team. Thus, prevention of bed sores will reduce complications of pain, infections, and burden on their family. Patient care to prevent bed sore requires attention together with body of knowledge and evidences generated by scientific research which will increase effectiveness of the care that is in line with the local context. The objective of this study was to develop an innovation - the mattresses produced from used continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) fluid bags for bed-ridden patients to prevent pressure sores, compared with the use of ordinary beds. It was studied in a community of Seka district, Puengkan Province, Thailand, from November 2012 to January 2014. Patients were devided into 2 groups: (1) 32 patients with pressure sore and (2) 150 patients without pressure sore. The study tools were (1) demographic data record form for personal characteristics and the duration of mattress use, (2) a form to record incidents of pressure sore, (3) a form to record patients’ and relaives’ satisfaction, (4) guideline and hadout on pressure sore prevention, and (5) the CAPD mattresses. It was found that there was no pressure sore detected among 128 patients in the group without initial pressure sore whereas 17 (77.3%) of 22 patients in the same category who used ordinary bed developed pressure sore. For the group with initial pressure sore, complete healing was observed in all of the patients with minimum to mild level of sore (level 1 - 3), and also in 2 (40.0%) of 5 patients with severe initial sore (level 4). Therefore, the outcomes demonstrated that CAPD mattress is effective in preventing pressure sore. This innovation should be promoted to be used for home care of bed-ridden patients, together with pressure sore prevention guideline.