Influencing factors of pressure injury healing in an acute care setting: A retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the factors that influence healing during acute care hospitalization by examining the differences in pressure injury (PI) status between admission and discharge. Material and methods: A total of 371 patients who met the study's inclusion criteria were divided into two groups (aggravated or improved) based on the PI status observed at admission and discharge. We used bivariate analyses to compare demographics and clinical factors associated with wound severity and aggravation/improvement of wound condition. Using multiple logistic regression, we identified and examined independent predictors for significant association with aggravation/improvement of the wound status. Results: The prevalence rate of PI at acute hospital admission was 12.5%. By the time of discharge, only 5.4% of PI patients had improved PI, whereas 12.6% had aggravated PI. The significant aggravating factors of PI during acute care hospitalization were the patient's consciousness level, use of foley catheter, creatinine level, and Braden Scale scores (p < .05). Residential place prior to admission were found to be associated with the healing. Conclusions: Nurses providing prophylactic management require close attention to patients who are admitted from long-term facilities to prevent aggravation of PI during acute care hospitalization. © 2021 Tissue Viability Society