2017 Volume 21 Issue 1 Pages 10-24
Introduction: It is important to understand the characteristics of pressure ulcers in patients with mental illness to provide appropriate care. This study aimed to determine the relationship between morphological characteristics of pressure ulcers and situations when they occur.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective study using quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative data was collected during pressure ulcer rounds from patients with mental illness and, for comparison, from patients without mental illness. Next, we conducted a qualitative descriptive analysis to examine the morphological characteristics of pressure ulcers in patients with mental illness and the situations in which pressure ulcers occurred.
Results: Data from 15 patients with mental illness and 262 patients with other diseases were analyzed. Compared to other patients, patients with mental illness were younger, had multiple pressure ulcers, classified as more ambulant, and had higher Braden Scale scores for friction/shear. The number of cases occurring outside the hospital was significantly higher. The morphological characteristics of pressure ulcers in patients with mental illness and the situations in which pressure ulcers occurred were defined as follows: shapes(cloud shape and sharp shape); color(single-color and multi-color); external force on the ulcer region(wiggle, flounder, stillness, and self-injurious behavior); and occurrence factors(excessive administration of psychiatric medicine, drug overdose, physical restraint, and circulatory failure).
Conclusion: Many patients with mental illness had 2 or more pressure ulcers, more ambulant, and are younger. The factors associated with occurrence of pressure ulcers were an external force caused by body movement and self-injurious behavior, and care included psychiatric medicine dosage and physical restraint.