Graduation Semester and Year

2014

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Jennifer R Gray

Abstract

Pressure ulcers (PU) are a common problem with important implications for the nursing community and for patients, including pain and suffering, delayed recovery, morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs, but little is known regarding what characterizes the difference between community acquired pressure ulcers (CAPU) and hospital acquired pressure ulcers (HAPU). Therefore, the purpose of this descriptive correlational retrospective study was to describe patient characteristics associated with CAPU and HAPU. Measured variables included gender, age, ethnicity, PU site, albumin, weight, BMI insurance, length of stay, type of bed, type of admission, and weekend admission, as well as Braden Scale measures of moisture, nutrition, activity, friction, sensory, and mobility. Chi-square and Mann Whitney U statistics revealed that CAPU and HAPU groups were similar in gender, ethnicity, PU site, insurance, type of bed, type of admission, and weekend admission. CAPU patients (xı = 73.2years) were significantly older than HAPU patients (xı = 70.4years). Albumin, weight, BMI, length of stay, and Braden measures were higher for HAPU patients than for CAPU patients at the α < .05 threshold. Logistic regression revealed the characteristics that were more likely associated with HAPU. The higher total Braden score, friction, and longer length of stay were associated with HAPU. Combined, these findings fill an important gap in the published nursing literature by demonstrating factors that characterize CAPU and HAPU.

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences | Nursing

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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