Moisture associated skin damage (MASD) in intensive care patients: A Norwegian point-prevalence study

Prevention and care for moisture-associated skin damage: A scoping review

OBJECTIVE

Moisture-associated skin damage (MASD) is an inflammatory skin condition caused by long-term exposure to a moist environment, which can compromise the integrity of the barrier and increase pain. This scoping review aimed to systematically analyze the research status of prevention and care for MASD.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched for relevant articles until March 2023.

RESULTS

Based on eligibility criteria, 34 research studies and review articles were included. The prevalence of MASD varies greatly in different medical environments and patient groups. The high-risk factors included prolonged exposure to excessive water, chemical irritation such as urine or feces, mechanical factors such as friction or improper removal of medical adhesives and local bacterial colonization. Prevention measures mainly include avoiding skin exposure to moisture, skin cleansing, moisturizing and the treatment of secondary bacterial infection.

CONCLUSION

A variety of factors have an impact on MASD. Nurses should select suitable tools to screen high-risk patients and take targeted preventive measures according to the related types of skin injury to reduce the incidence of MASD.

Incidence, characteristics, and associated factors of pressure injuries acquired in intensive care units over a 12-month period: A secondary analysis of a quality improvement project

OBJECTIVES

To determine the 12-month cumulative incidence, characteristics, and associated factors of pressure injuries acquired in Intensive Care Units.

SETTING

Four intensive care units in a Norwegian University Hospital.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

A prospective observational cohort study using data from daily skin inspections during a quality improvement project. We used descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Variables associated with the development of intensive care unit-acquired pressure injuries are presented with odds ratios (OR), and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

The 12-month cumulative incidence of patients (N = 594) developing intensive care unit-acquired pressure injuries was 29 % (172/594) for all categories and 16 % (95/594) when excluding category I pressure injuries (no skin loss). Cumulative incidence for patients acquiring medical device-related pressure injuries was 15 % (91/594) and 11 % (64/594) for category II or worse. Compression stockings (n = 51) and nasogastric tubes (n = 22) were the most frequent documented medical devices related to pressure injuries. Development of pressure injuries category II or worse was significantly associated with vasoactive drug infusions (OR 11.84, 95 % CI [1.59; 88.13]) and longer intensive care unit length of stay (OR 1.06, 95 % CI [1.04; 1.08]).

CONCLUSION

The 12-month cumulative incidence of intensive care unit-acquired pressure injuries was relatively high when category I pressure injuries were included, but comparable to other studies when category I was excluded. Some medical device-related pressure injuries were surprisingly frequent, and these may be prevented. However, associated factors of developing pressure injuries were present and deemed non-modifiable.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE

Awareness about pressure injury prevention is needed in the intensive care unit considering high incidences. Nurses can detect category I pressure injuries early, which may be reversed. Our findings show several factors that clinicians can control to reduce the risk of pressure injuries in the intensive care unit.

Risk factors of incontinence-associated dermatitis in older adults: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Due to their ageing skin, older adults are more likely to develop incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD). Although previous attempts to look at the risk factors for IAD in older adults were done, methodological barriers hindered an in-depth understanding. By investigating risk factors for IAD in the ageing population, the development of precise clinical interventions and guidance could be facilitated, which in turn would enhance patient care standards for incontinence management in this target group. To address this knowledge gap, this systematic review with meta-analysis aims to explore the major risk elements linked to IAD among older adults.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols are adhered to in this systematic review and meta-analysis. To achieve its objectives, a comprehensive search strategy PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Medline, Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP database), WanFang Data Knowledge Service Platform, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, along with other relevant sources published until 18 July 2023 in both English and Chinese languages will be performed. The screening of articles, data abstraction and risk of bias evaluation will be done by two impartial reviewers. RevMan V.5.3 software will be used for data synthesis. The quality of the included study will be assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment tool and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The I 2 test will identify the heterogeneity.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

There is no need for ethical approval. Individual patient information or the rights of participants will not be compromised by this protocol. The findings will either be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42023442585.

Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis: Prevalence in Intensive Care Units and Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Nurses

BACKGROUND

Incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) is a major concern among hospitals, especially in intensive care units (ICUs).

PURPOSE

To describe ICU nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and practices of IAD and to examine the relationships with IAD prevalence in the ICU setting.

METHODS

A descriptive correlational design was used including the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis Questionnaire and 1-month IAD prevalence data.

RESULTS

The prevalence of IAD in ICUs was 6.89%. A positive correlation was found between IAD prevalence and nurses' IAD knowledge and attitudes. Nurses working in the ICU for more than 7 years, caring for patients at high risk for or having IAD, and thinking IAD-related nursing practices were sufficient had significantly higher IAD knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings indicate that ICU nurses learned about IAD through clinical experience and have inadequate training on IAD. A standardized evidence-based care protocol for IAD should be developed.

A Multicenter Assessment of Nurses' Knowledge Regarding Pressure Ulcer Prevention in Intensive Care Units Utilizing the PUKAT 2.0

Introduction

Pressure ulcer (PU) care is pivotal in the practice of nurses working in intensive care units (ICUs). Therefore, nurses must possess adequate knowledge about the potential risks leading to the development of PUs, as well as managing complications that worsen patient conditions.

Objective

To evaluate the level of knowledge of ICU nurses concerning PU prevention in tertiary hospitals in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, the researchers recruited 320 ICU nurses from four tertiary hospitals using convenience sampling. Nurses' knowledge regarding PU prevention was assessed using the revised and updated version of the Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Assessment Tool (PUKAT) 2.0. Data were collected between May and June 2022. The CROSS checklist was observed for reporting.

Results

The mean scores of nurses' level of knowledge regarding PU prevention according to the themes of the revised and updated version of the PUKAT 2.0 were as follows-etiology: 62.81  ±  23.77; classification and observation: 50.86  ±  23.28; risk assessment: 31.19  ±  24.26; nutritious diet: 46.04  ±  25.96; prevention: 22.36  ±  12.41; and specific patient groups: 14.84  ±  22.88. Furthermore, the score for nurses' overall level of knowledge of PU prevention was 39.55  ±  8.84 out of 100, interpreted as low based on the 60% cutoff; the minimum knowledge score was 0. Notably, knowledge of PU etiology, classification, observation, and specific patient groups differed based on the hospital of affiliation. Interestingly, gender was the only demographic characteristic based on which nurses' knowledge regarding specific patient groups differed.

Conclusion

This study identified insufficient knowledge among ICU nurses regarding PU prevention, which can lead to complications among patients. Simulation scenarios related to PU prevention and management will be an effective way to help nurses gain appropriate knowledge that can be applied in clinical practice.

Risk factors of incontinence-associated dermatitis among critically ill patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives

Incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) is increasingly found among critically ill patients, but the risk factors for IAD in these patients are currently unclear. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to identify the risk factors of IAD in critically ill patients.

Methods

Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were systemically searched until July 2022. The studies were selected based on inclusion criteria, and data were independently extracted by two researchers. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Odds ratios (ORs) and their associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to identify significant differences in the risk factors. The I ² test was used to estimate the heterogeneity of studies, and Egger's test was used to assess the potential publication bias.

Results

A total of 7 studies enrolling 1,238 recipients were included in the meta-analysis. Age ≥ 60 (OR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.38~3.42), female sex (OR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.32~2.34), dialysis (OR = 2.67, 95% CI: 1.51~4.73), fever (OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.03~2.33), vasoactive agent (OR = 2.35, 95% CI: 1.45~3.80), PAT score ≥ 7 (OR = 5.23, 95% CI: 3.15~8.99), frequency of bowel movement > 3times/d (OR = 5.33, 95% CI: 3.19~8.93), and liquid stool (OR = 2.61, 95% CI: 1.56~4.38) were the risk factors of IAD among critically ill patients.

Conclusions

Many risk factors are related to IAD among critically ill patients. Nursing staff should pay more attention to evaluating the risk of IAD and enhance the care of high-risk groups.

ABCD before E-verything else-Intensive care nurses' knowledge and experience of pressure injury and moisture-associated skin damage

Patients in intensive care units are at high risk of developing pressure injuries and moisture-associated skin damages. Prevention and care rely much on intensive care nurses' competency and attitudes. This study explored intensive care nurses' experience, knowledge and bedside practice in prevention and care of pressure injuries and moisture-associated skin damages with a descriptive qualitative design. Six focus groups (n = 25) were carried out in three University hospitals, two in Norway and one inIceland. Interviews were guided by a questioning route, recorded and transcribed verbatim before an inductive content analysis. Three interconnected main categories related to nurses' experience, knowledge and bedside care were identified: (a) nursing; (b) context; and (c) patients. Intensive care nurses recognise patients' risk of developing pressure injuries, as well as their continuous need of personal hygiene because of leakage of body fluids. Nurses were therefore attentive to skin inspection and preventive care but felt insecure and in need of expert help in pressure injury wound care. It varied whether nurses had access to suitable beds and mattresses and experts in wound care. ABCD had to be before E-verything else, but the skin had higher priority in long-stay compared with short-stay patients.

Moisture-Associated Skin Damage: Expanding and Updating Practice Based on the Newest ICD-10-CM Codes

Moisture-associated skin damage (MASD) occurs when skin is repeatedly exposed to various sources of bodily secretions or effluents, often leading to irritant contact dermatitis with inflammation, with or without denudation of affected skin. In 2020, the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society took an initiative that led to the addition of multiple International Classification for Diseases codes for irritant contract dermatitis caused by various forms of MASD for use in the United States (ICD-10-CM). In the last issue of the Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing, a clinical practice alert identifying the various new codes was published that summarized each of the new codes and provided highlights of the descriptions of each of the these codes. This is the first in a series of 2 articles providing a more detailed description of the newest irritant contact dermatitis codes linked to MASD. Specifically, this article reviews the clinical manifestations and assessment, pathophysiology, epidemiology, prevention, and management of irritant contact dermatitis due to saliva, respiratory secretions, and fecal or urinary incontinence.

Customized Three-Dimensional-Printed Orthopedic Close Contact Casts for the Treatment of Stable Ankle Fractures: Finite Element Analysis and a Pilot Study

Ankle fracture is one of the most common traumatic fractures among the elderly population. The majority of ankle fractures are stable types with the typically conservative strategy of close contact casting treatment. The continuous use of unventilated standard cast immobilization severely affects patient's satisfaction and compliance and markedly increases the rates of various complications. Three-dimensional (3D) printing for casts has advantages of lightweight, ventilated, proper-fit, and esthetic improvements. In this work, this novel 3D-printed cast has been applied to individuals with stable ankle fractures, and its effectiveness can be successfully validated with finite element analysis and a pilot study. A 30% reduction of the volume was chosen as the optimal result in topology optimization. Both 3D-printed casts and conventional casts showed significant ankle function improvement after immobilization for 6 weeks (p = 0.000). The 3D-printed casts were superior to the traditional casts in Olerud-Molander Ankle Scores (OMAS), with the mean difference of 8.3 ± 8.57 OMAS points (95% CI -10.8 to 27.5; p = 0.354) for 6 weeks, implying that the 3D-printed casts possibly maintain the equal clinical efficacy as the traditional casts. The statistically significant difference between groups from the 3D-printed cast and the traditional one observed in C-QUEST 2.0 was 11.3 ± 1.5 points (95% CI 8.0-14.6; p = 0.000), indicating that the 3D-printed cast possesses outperforming satisfaction and compliance and has great potential in practical applications. There were no severe complications in the 3D-printed casts, but more moderate complications were observed in the traditional casts.