The Effectiveness of Nutrition in Pressure Ulcer Management

This report delves into the critical relationship between nutrition and pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores. It begins with an introduction that defines pressure ulcers and highlights the risk factors, such as limited mobility, that contribute to their development. The report emphasizes the importance of a balanced diet rich in proteins, vitamins, calories, and fluids for maintaining skin health and preventing these injuries. The aim is to analyze the effectiveness of nutrition in both preventing and healing pressure ulcers. The objectives include understanding pressure ulcers and analyzing the role of nutrition in their healing and prevention. Research questions address the nature of pressure ulcers, the impact of nutrition on their severity, and nutritional strategies for prevention and healing. The rationale underscores the significance of nutrition in the treatment of pressure ulcers, citing studies that indicate the deficiency of essential nutrients can delay wound healing and the study's value in increasing awareness among people regarding the link between pressure ulcers and nutritional status. The report concludes with references to studies supporting the effectiveness of nutritional interventions in pressure ulcer management.

Effectiveness of Nutrition

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................1
1.1 Study background .................................................................................................................1
1.2 Aim .......................................................................................................................................1
1.3 Objectives .............................................................................................................................1
1.4 Research questions ................................................................................................................1
1.5 Rationale for the study ..........................................................................................................1
1.6 Significance ...........................................................................................................................2
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................3

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Study background
Pressure ulcers are also known as bedsores and is defined as the skin injury or the
damage to the underlying skin tissues. The condition often results form prolong pressure on skin.
Most commonly the disease is developed in bony regions of the body such as ankles, hips, heels
and tail-bone. The people who have difficulty in mobility are at higher risk of developing
pressure ulcer (Cereda and et.al., 2017). It has been also analysed from the several studies that
for maintaining the healthy skin and to avoid pressure ulcer healthy diet can be one of the
effective choice. The people must include the diet full of proteins, vitamins, calories and fluids
so that the skin damage can be avoided. Thus, in the development, prevention and healing of
pressure ulcer nutritional balance and eating habits of individuals plays significant role.
The increased complications in this disease can also lead to severe pain, bone infections
and cancer as well. Thus, health professionals also recommend to focus and improve their
nutritional intake. The regular habit and intake of necessary nutritions can be proven as effective
nursing and treatment intervention (Posthauer and et.al., 2015). The oral eating issues as well as
weight loss are closely related to the higher vulnerability of the pressure ulcer development.
Contrary to this the inadequate or imbalance nutritional content in the body can cause non-
healing wounds.
1.2 Aim
To analyse the effectiveness of nutrition in the prevention and healing of pressure ulcers.
1.3 Objectives
 To understand the pressure ulcers
 To analyse the role of nutrition in healing and prevention of pressure ulcer
1.4 Research questions
 What is pressure ulcer?
 How nutrition affects the severity of pressure ulcer?
 How pressure ulcer can be prevented and healed by balancing nutrition?
1.5 Rationale for the study
The insufficient body movement can hinder or cause the difficulty in the blood flow to
skin and thus skin gets deprived of nutrient. Nutritions plays an important role in the treatment of
pressure ulcer. It has been commonly agreed by all the health professionals that the deficiency of
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the essential body nutrients can lead to delay in healing of the wounds. Various types of minerals
such as protein, calcium and vitamins can increase the healing rate of the wound caused by
pressure ulcers. The malnutrition is also one of the factor which causes weight loss or reduced
efficiency of immune system. Thus, adequate nutritional energy is required so that the protein
and fat sores can be healed. For this purpose it is essential that significance of nutritions must be
analysed for healing pressure ulcer (Banks and et.al., 2016). This reason encourages the research
studies which highlights the significance of nutritional status for the treatment of pressure ulcer.
Another reason for conducting this study is to identify the several risk factors associated with
under-nutrition patients. The painful and deteriorating condition of the pressure ulcers can be
effectively controlled and managed with this approach.
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 (Molnar, Vlad and Gumus,
2016.). The balance and healthy food intake encourages the improvement in the patients
suffering from the disease. However, this critical aspect is often neglected by the people and
their care takers.
Thus, it is very important that the care providers must regularly analyse and update the
nutritional intake as per the needs of body so that their health outcomes can be improved. The
balanced diet and inclusion of specific types of body nutrients can reduce the severity of the
wounds caused by bedsores. There is great need to create awareness among people so that they
can manage their ulcers with the balance diet. The study will help affected patients and their
families as well as health professionals to recognise the necessary nutritional elements which
they must include in their diet.
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REFERENCES
Cereda, E. and et.al., 2017. Efficacy of a disease-specific nutritional support for pressure ulcer
healing: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The journal of nutrition, health &
aging. 21(6). pp.655-661.
Posthauer, M.E., and et.al., 2015. The role of nutrition for pressure ulcer management: national
pressure ulcer advisory panel, European pressure ulcer advisory panel, and pan pacific
pressure injury alliance white paper. Advances in skin & wound care. 28(4). pp.175-188.
Molnar, J.A., Vlad, L.G. and Gumus, T., 2016. Nutrition and chronic wounds: improving clinical
outcomes. Plastic and reconstructive surgery. 138(3S). pp.71S-81S.
Banks, M.D., and et.al., 2016. Pressure ulcer healing with an intensive nutrition intervention in
an acute setting: a pilot randomised controlled trial. Journal of wound care. 25(7).
pp.384-392.
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