Prevention of Pressure Sore Development in Orthopaedic Wards of Selected Nigeria Teaching / Specialist Hospitals

Abstract

Pressure sore is a localized area of tissue damage leading to ulceration of the skin due to the effect of prolonged pressure. The role of the nurses in the prevention of pressure ulcer cannot be over-emphasized because the nurse helps in preventing calamities associated with development of pressure ulcer. The study is aimed at investigating the causes, incidence and method of prevention of pressure ulcer in patients admitted in orthopaedic wards of both specialist hospitals, Sobi and University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.

The method used was a descriptive study and variables were demographic, perception of the causes of pressure sores and measures of prevention of pressure sore. Simple percentage was used for the analysis of the results. A total of 90 participants (50 nurses & 40 patients) were used for the study with 35 (38.89%) males and 55 (61.11%) females. Among these respondents (patients) 24 (60%) have been on admission for period of 3-4 years,

11 (27.5%) for period of 1-2 years, and 5 (12.5%) between 5-6 years. The findings from the study showed that the nurses’ and patients’ understanding of the methods of prevention of pressure sore was low. This is because the incidence of pressure sores in the two orthopaedic wards had risen.

Keywords: Mobility, Orthopaedic wards, prolonged Activities of Daily Living, Delcubitus ulcer pressure.