Preventing Pressure Ulcers in Elderly Patients in Aged Care Facilities

Running head: ASSESSMENT 3: EVALUATION OF EVIDENCE 1
EVALUATION OF EVIDENCE.
(Author’s name)
(Institutional Affiliation)

EVALUATION OF EVIDENCE 2
Introduction.
Pressure ulcers are highly common in aged care facilities due to the existence of risk
factors such as chronic diseases, malnutrition, and age-related issues(Sharp, Schulz Moore, &
McLaws, 2019). A pressure injury normally has features such as localize injuries underlying skin
tissues over the bony prominence areas of the body such as ankle and hip regions. Pressure
injuries commonly occur to patients who are bed-bound and thus treatment of such wounds
especially in aged patients is often difficult. One way of preventing pressure injuries in these
facilities is by increasing patients mobilization to relieve pressures at affected regions(Gillespie
et al., 2014). Patient mobilization helps to relieve pressure at affected parts of the body thus
improving the life quality of patients. Therefore, health care providers should look for more
reliable and most useful strategies that support patient mobilization specifically in aged care
residents where such interventions might be limited. This study seeks to evaluate the most
available evidence that supports how increasing mobilization in elder people through assisting
them to walk for at least ten minutes every two hours daily can help to prevent pressure injuries.
The study will include a search strategy of the various evidence and discuss how it has an impact
on understanding evidence-based practice.
Background.
For a long period, many aged care facilities are usually at risk of bedsores despite the
existence strategies such frequent repositioning at two hours and four hours intervals and use of
pressure mattress(Yap, Kennerly, Bergstrom, Hudak, & Horn, 2016). Although a good deal of
health care providers understands these risks, little has been done to change to other prevention
methods that can work. According to the study by Yap et al 2018, pressure ulcers can start
developing in patients while sitting, sleeping in one position for a long time or leaving a patient

EVALUATION OF EVIDENCE 3
in any other position for a longer period. Therefore, improving mobilization to patients is an
effective intervention that can highly reduce such incidences thus improving the life and quality
of aged patients(Bergstrom et al., 2014). There are various ways in which health care providers
can improve patients mobilization in aged care facilities. The most commonly used methods
include turning of patients two-hourly in different possible positions to relieve pressure at target
areas. Evidence shows that patient repositioning reduces risks for pressure injuries development
in aged patients(Yap et al., 2018). Other methods of reducing pressure injuries include the use of
high-density form mattresses that can be combined with patient reposition to provide better
results. However, despite the use of these interventions, patients still develop bedsores and thus
better strategies need to be employed(Bergstrom et al., 2014). Walking patients for ten minutes
every two hours or at a similar time per day can highly help to improve patients mobilization
wholly and thus reliving pressures to the risk areas such as ankles, hips, and elbows. Besides, this
strategy help in improving other physical and physiological functions thus allowing the body to
function in a way there is a reduced risk for development of complete immobilization or leading
to bed-bound patients(Yap et al., 2018). In this regard, checking the best available evidence that
can prove increase mobilization of patients minimizes risks for pressure ulcers development can
help to improve clinical practice, guidelines, and recommendations that can be used to improve
health and welfare of aged care patients.
Research Question and PICO.
In elder people living in aged care facilities, could a walk for ten minutes every two hours daily
prevent the risk of pressure injuries?
P- aged patients in residential facilities.
I-Walking for ten minutes per in ever two hours per day