預測胃腸肝膽科病人發生壓瘡之危險因子

Pressure ulcers are an important indicator of quality of care. The condition may jeopardize patients' quality of life and increase medical expense. Patients with gastroenterological or hepatobiliary diseases often exhibit the malnutrition and imbalanced body fluids. Regions with delicate skin, such as the sacral area, may sustain friction/shear force resulting in pressure ulcers. However, few studies have been conducted regarding the risk factors for pressure ulcers among patients with gastroenterological or hepatobiliary disease. The purpose of this study was to explore these risk factors. This study involved applying a cross-sectional research design. A total of 121 participants from a gastroenterology and hepatology ward of a medical center in Southern Taiwan were included. The inclusion criteria were that patients were without pressure ulcer before inclusion and stayed at the hospital for more than 3 days thereafter. The data collection period was 6 months. Demographic data, the Braden scale, and the malnutrition universal screening tool were used to assess the risk factors. The analysis methods were descriptive analysis, the chi-square test, t-test, and regression. Our results demonstrated that demographic data and nutrition status had no impact on the development of pressure ulcers. Only the degree of friction/shear indicated on the Braden scale was significantly related to the development of pressure ulcers, with the risk of developing pressure ulcers decreasing 0.265 times per score increase. Our findings suggest that caregivers should avoid pulling when moving patients and changing their position, and that they should provide skin protection to reduce the risk of pressure ulcer development.