Two- to four-hour repositioning intervals significantly lowered the rate of pressure ulcers compared to no repositioning or longer intervals, found a review of 15 previous studies involving more than 8,500 patients.
Chinese researchers noted that international guidelines call for the rate of repositioning to be adjusted based on patient needs, but old standards may be changing.
“Modern advancements in the repositioning field have sparked newfound attention in repositioning procedures, repositioning systems, nursing time, nursing time cost, nurses’ compliance, nurses’ and subjects’ preferences, comfort, and acceptability, use of turning teams, repositioning complications, and wearable subject sensors,” they wrote in the International Wound Journal.
Two- to four-hour repositioning had significantly lower PU rates than four- to six-hour repositioning in at-risk adults. Previous research also backed a turning system using two, 30-degree body wedges. A turning team also considerably reduced formation of pressure ulcers, though the authors acknowledged the expense might make such an approach impractical.
From the September 2023 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
