Introduction
Pressure ulcers are localized areas of damage on the skin and tissues due to the applied pressure or friction (Nijs et al., 2009). The incidence of pressure ulcers in hospitals ranges from 2.7% to 29%. The incidence depends on the status of the type of care extended to the bedridden. The pressure ulcers are commonly found in the bony prominent areas such as in the hips and spine. The primary cause of the pressure ulcers is prolonged lack of blood flow to the areas in contact with the bed. The pressures ulcers that are not treated result to ischemia, tissue necrosis and death of cells in the affected areas (Page, Barker, & Kamar, 2011). The groups susceptible to pressure ulcers include the elderly, who cannot walk, the terminally ill, people suffering from Parkinson’s disease, dementia and the depressed (Spisbury et al., 2011).
The immobility makes them confined to bed and have to depend on caregiver to turn them. The pressure ulcers are very painful, and they act as avenues for infection. The resulting infections may lead to permanent wounds and loss of life. The main care given to the bedridden patients is normally turning of the patient in order to ensure circulation of blood to all body parts. In the case of the elderly, nutrition deficiency, impaired immobility, fractures and chronic diseases increases the susceptibility of the elderly to the pressure ulcers.
Research Question
Management of pressure ulcers requires knowledge of the condition, the underlying causes and the level of the pressure ulcers. Healthcare givers need to understand the different care methods to improve the quality of life of the bedridden patients. Therefore, the research will be guided by the following question.
Effects of Pressure Ulcers on the Bedridden Patients
Pressure ulcers have become a common health challenge affecting terminally ill and the elderly who are bedridden. The problem of pressure ulcers is common in hospitals, homes and long-term healthcare centers. Patients receiving home care and attended by untrained health professionals are at higher risk of developing pressure ulcers. According to Page et al. (2011), pressure ulcers that are not treated become chronic and the affected individual can die of the problem. The primary goal of managing the pressure ulcers is to treat the present sores and prevent the risk factors that contribute to the problem.
Prolonged pressure ulcers lead to serious health effects. If they are not treated or preventive measures taken, the ulcers become chronic and can lead to death (Nijs et al., 2009). The pressure sores serve as opening for infections; thus predisposing the patients to more risks of contracting other diseases. In addition to the physical effects and pain associated with pressure ulcers, pressure ulcers have a psychological impact on patients. Assessment of the perceptions of bedridden patients showed that patients view pressure ulcers considered them as a bad experience. They were concerned with what they can do to avoid the spread of pressure ulcers to other points of pressure. In addition, they were worried about the time healing process, quality care and the cost implication of the pressure ulcers (Spisbury et al., 2007).
The main preventive measure of ulcer treatment is to ensure that there is sufficient circulation of blood to the affected areas. Thus, there is the need for research to find out the different methods of preventing pressure ulcers in bedridden patients.
References
Nijs, N., Toppets, A., Defloor, T., Bernaerts, K., Milisen, K., & VanDen-Berghe, G. (2009). Incidence and risk factors for pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18(9), 1258-1266.
Page, K., Barker, A. & Kamar, J. (2011). Development and validation of a pressure ulcer risk assessment tool for acute hospital patients. Wound Repair and Regeneration, 19(1), 31-37.
Spisbury, K., Neso, A., Culum, N. Iglesias, C., Nixon, J. & Mason, S. (2007). Pressure ulcers and their treatment and effects on quality of life: Hospital inpatient perspectives. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 57(5), 494-504.