Nutrition's Role in Preventing and Healing Pressure Ulcers

This report presents a literature review on the effectiveness of nutrition in preventing and healing pressure ulcers. It highlights the significance of nutritional status, including protein, energy, and micronutrient intake, in wound healing and skin integrity. The study explores the impact of malnutrition, inadequate protein intake, and the benefits of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) in addressing nutrient deficiencies and promoting tissue repair. The objectives include examining the role of ONS, assessing malnutrition diagnosis methods, and offering recommendations for future practices. The report emphasizes the economic and patient-centered importance of the topic, noting the high costs associated with pressure ulcers and the need for increased awareness. The discussion summarizes the impact of various nutrients, such as zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin C, on wound healing, and concludes with the importance of regular nutritional screening and multidisciplinary care, including registered dieticians, to optimize patient outcomes. References to supporting research are included.

EFFECTIVENESS OF
NUTRITION
TITLE:
The Effectiveness of Nutrition in the Prevention and Healing of
Pressure Ulcers

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Study background
■ Under-nutrition, inadequate protein or poor protein and energy intake and unintended
weight loos have been identified as risk factors for pressure ulcer development.
■ Malnutrition is recognized as one of the major risk factor for poor wound healing and
developing PUs.
■ Satisfactory nutritional status is crucial for proper wound healing.
■ Improving the nutritional status of patients with oral nutritional supplements (ONS) in
addition to regular food intake seems a logical way to replenish body shortage of
macro- and micronutrients.
■ ONS also supply extra nutrients for the preservation of skin tissue, strengthening of
tissue resistance, and promoting tissue repair.

CONTI…..
1.2 Aim
■ The aim of the literature review is to identified and critically analyse the evidence that support the effectiveness of
nutrition in prevention and healing of pressure ulcer.
1.3 Objectives
■ The objective of this study will analysed within the three fundamental chapters, which will lead to the
recommendation for future practice. These will also examine
■ Themes and Discussion
■ Overview of Pressure ulcers( Define)
■ How oral nutritional supplement will help improve the nutritional requirement to enhance prevention and healing
of PUs
■ To explore the effectiveness of assessment/screening method used in the diagnosis of malnutrition in the prevention
and healing of PUs.

1.5 Rationale for the study
■ The rationale for the choice of this topic was inspired by working in the community setting.
■ It was observed that the ongoing development of PU and challenges faced by the healthcare
professionals to its healing and the impact on the patient in both the community and acute
setting is huge, despite putting in place all pressure reducing and relieving equipment and
training for healthcare professionals.
■ I therefore decided to look into the research that had been carryout around the effect of
nutrition in the management and prevention of PU on both the acute and community setting
patients.
■ Pressure ulcer costing the NHS £1.4 -2.1 billion per year (Bennett et al 2009) with category
four PU costing approximately £14,108 per patient (Dealey et al 2012).

1.6 Significance
■ The study is very important from the perspective of increasing awareness among people
regarding pressure ulcer.
■ People usually have belief that only insufficient mobility is the cause for the pressure
ulcer and nutritional status does not have any link with it.
■ Contrary to this, it has been encouraged by the professionals and care service providers
that it becomes even more essential for the people to regulate and control their
nutritional intake

DISCUSSION

Summary
■ From the analysis of the above themes, it can be summarised that nutritional imbalance
in terms of protein, energy and other vital body nutrients are the key reason for the
malnutrition.
■ The nutrients such as zinc, vitamin A, protein and vitamin C promotes quick healing of
the wounds.
■ The deficiency of any of these elements can slower the healing process. The various
types of nutrients contributes differently to the progression of pressure ulcer.

CONTI…..
■ For instance vitamin A rich diet helps in skin integration and stimulation of collagen
synthesis.
■ Thus, for the patients with deficiency of this vitamin, there is need of providing
additional supplements so that wound healing can be optimised.
■ Similarly, the zinc is vital for the fibroblast synthesis and vitamin C is responsible for
the collagen synthesis.

CONCLUSION

CONTI…..
■ It has been analysed from the above discussion that for the healing process in pressure
ulcer, it is necessary that body effectively performs the functions such as skin
preservation, viability of body tissues and repairing process of body tissues.
■ However, these functions are dependent upon the nutritional intake of an individual.
■ For the patients which are at higher risk of pressure ulcer, it becomes vital for the health
professionals to understand the malnutrition and the impact of different nutritional
constituents on process of wound healing.

CONTI…..
■ It can be concluded that in order to provide quality care services to the patients of
pressure ulcer, there must be regular screening of the nutritions consumed by
individuals.
■ For this objective, nutritional guidelines must be refer and registered dieticians must be
incorporated in the multidisciplinary care providing team.