PICOT Analysis: Impact of Skincare vs. Cushions on HAPI Recovery

This report presents a PICOT analysis investigating the impact of skincare versus pressure-reducing cushions and mattresses on the recovery of patients with hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPI). The patient population focuses on individuals aged above 70 years with skin damage and mobility issues. The intervention involves maintaining clean and dry skin, while the comparison examines the use of pressure-relieving mattresses and cushions. The outcome aims to prevent and facilitate recovery from HAPI, with a time frame of one year for complete recovery from pressure ulcer infections. The analysis considers factors such as skin tolerance, infection prevention, and the cost-effectiveness of different treatment approaches. Desklib offers a wealth of resources, including past papers and solved assignments, to support students in their studies.

Running head: PICOT STATEMENT
HOSPITAL ACQUIRED PRESSURE INJURIES
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1PICOT STATEMENT
Table of Contents
PICOT statement.............................................................................................................................2
Patient population (P)..................................................................................................................2
Intervention (I).............................................................................................................................2
Comparison (C)...........................................................................................................................3
Outcome (O)................................................................................................................................3
Time Frame (T)............................................................................................................................4
References........................................................................................................................................5

2PICOT STATEMENT
PICOT statement
“In patients with long illness (P), how does good skincare (I) compared to the use of
pressure reducing cushions mattresses (C) affects the recovery from HAPI- Hospital Acquired
Pressure Injuries (O) within one year.”
Patient population (P)
The selected patient population is a group of people aged above 70 years associated with
skin damages and mobility problems by dehydration and various other factors. These factors
include illnesses associated with bed and post-surgery conditions. This population has been
detected to have inabilities in moving and to be suffering from obesity or paralysis. According to
the epidemiological reports 700,000 people have been found to be affected by pressure ulcer
every year in various healthcare settings which include own home patients and the vulnerable
patient who are aged over 75 years (Lachenbruch et al., 2016). This is the overall patient
population of the PICOT analysis.
Intervention (I)
Patient skin must be kept clean and dry in order to avoid any injuries associate with
pressure. Products or drugs, which dries out the human skin, should be avoided in order to
prevent the occurrence of pressure ulcer in patients. A doctor or nurse must always take care of
the fact that there are no physiological changes in patient skin. These changes mainly include
swelling, soreness and redness (Bale et al., 2018). Regular bathing with soap and water will
prevent the occurrence of pressure ulcers in the selected patient population. This intervention has
been found to be related to building skin tolerance that is a gradual but effective process for the

3PICOT STATEMENT
reduction of pressure ulcer prevalence among the patients. Use of foam pads and pillows are also
associated with the protection of skin and bony areas. Two skin surfaces must not be allowed to
rest against each other while sleeping (Hernandez, 2019). This factor has been spotted in various
research studies associated with HAPI.
Comparison (C)
On comparing the interventions strategies, pressure-relieving mattresses, beds and seat
cushions that are widely used in both non-institutional and institutional settings. This strategy has
been studied in various research studies involving randomized controlled trials (RCT)
(Bassinger, Kistler & Soule, 2016). According to various observations, Drive Medical deluxe gel
wheelchair cushion and Wondergel Original Gel seat cushion has been identified as the best
mattresses and cushions for the reduction of pressure ulcers. Memory foam has been used in
regular nursing practices to envelop a steep and well-distributed pressure all over the body. Thus,
it can be stated that a single part of the body is never pressurized after the use of mattresses for
the patients. This is the main reason for foam mattress being the best mattress for bedsore
preventions. Thus, it can be stated that although the use of cushions and mattress are more
effective than skin cleaning in the prevention and treatment of HAPI, the first process is more
costly than the process of skin cleaning.
Outcome (O)
The target outcome of this PICOT question is the prevention and recovery of patients
from HAPI. Pressure ulcers have been found to affect a large number of long-term patients and
inpatients in the hospital settings. These two strategies have been found to be effective in the
reduction of pressure ulcer prevalence among various health care institutes where both short term
and long term patients are admitted. According to various research studies, it can be stated that

4PICOT STATEMENT
even if healing does not take place immediately after the introduction of the strategies, skin and
tissue damage rates is reduced (Elsabrout et al., 2018). Severe pressure ulcers have been
observed to health within a week after the introduction of proper treatment, however, surgery is
needed for serious wounds (Penoyer et al., 2019). Mattresses and dressings have been found to
prevent the infection by dead tissue dissolving process. This is the overall outcome of this
PICOT question talking about pressure ulcers and hospital-acquired pressure infections.
Time Frame (T)
Patients suffering from HAPI will be found to have recovered from their suffering
condition after the use of mattresses and skin-cleaning process for the prevention of hospital-
acquired pressure infections. The normal recovery time for stage 2 pressure ulcer infection is 4
weeks. However, the complete recovery rate is one year for pressure ulcer infections.
This is the overall discussion about the PICOT statement stated above “In patients with
long illness (P), how does good skincare (I) compared to the use of pressure reducing cushions
mattresses (C) affects the recovery from HAPI- Hospital Acquired Pressure Injuries (O) within
one year."

5PICOT STATEMENT
References
Bale, S., Cameron, J., Meaume, S., & Ingegneri, A. (2018). Skin care. In Science and practice of
pressure ulcer management (pp. 111-124). Springer, London.
Bassinger, A., Kistler, K., & Soule, M. (2016). Preventing Pressure Ulcers in Adults: An
Integrative Review.
Elsabrout, K., Orbacz, E., McMahon, L. A., & Apold, S. (2018). Large‐Scale Hospital Mattress
Switch‐Out Leads to Reduction Hospital‐Acquired Pressure Ulcers: Operationalization of
a Multidisciplinary Task Force. Worldviews on Evidence‐Based Nursing, 15(3), 161-169.
Hernandez, M. J. (2019). Pressure ulcer prevention: A quality improvement project (Doctoral
dissertation, Bradley University).
Lachenbruch, C., Ribble, D., Emmons, K., & VanGilder, C. (2016). Pressure ulcer risk in the
incontinent patient. Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing, 43(3), 235-241.
Penoyer, D., Britt, C., Wilkinson, L., Arwood, L., & Sole, M. (2019). 687: A CRITICAL CARE-
SPECIFIC PUP BUNDLE REDUCES HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED PRESSURE ULCERS
IN THE ICU. Critical Care Medicine, 47(1), 324.