The effects of a community-based discharge-planning model for continuing pressure ulcer care on wound healing rates, nutritional status, and infection rates of elderly patients in Thailand

Abstract

This quasi-experimental research design study aimed to determine the effects of a community-based discharge-planning model for continuing pressure ulcer care on the nutritional status, wound-healing, and infection rates in one hundred elderly patients at a tertiary hospital in Thailand. The patients were simple randomized into two groups; namely, the control group receiving regular care and the experimental group using the model for continuing pressure ulcer care. Data from a personal information record, a wound-healing rate evaluation form, and a record of ulcer cultures and blood albumin levels were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test and chi-square test. The results showed that the wound-healing rate and blood albumin of the experimental group were significantly higher compared to the control group (p < 0.01). Also, the ulcer infection rates were significantly different between the two groups (p<0.05). The evidence suggests that the community-based discharge-planning model for continuing pressure ulcer care is effective and efficient in improving nutritional status, healing ulcers, and reducing ulcer infections.

Keywords

• pressure ulcer
• wound-healing
• nutritional status
• infection
• elderly patients