2023 Volume 27 Issue 3 Pages 503-514
The present study examined the prevalence of medical device-related pressure ulcers (MDRPU) and care in the home care setting. In total, 1,800 facilities nationwide with designated home-visit nursing stations were surveyed for MDRPU cases. The response rate was 18.8% (252 MDRPU in 338 facilities). The mean patient age was 69.0±25.3 years (range: 0-101 years); 115 (45.6%) respondents were men; and 233 (79.8%) MDRPU occurred at home. The most commonly involved devices were the indwelling urethral catheter (n=68), transmucosal tube (n=56),and nasal oxygen cannula (n=30). Using DESIGN-R®, depth was scored d1, d2, D3, D4, and D5 in 163 (55.8%), 85 (29.1%), 18 (6.2%), 9 (3.1%), and one (0.3%) patient, respectively. Skin care, contact site protection, and pressure reduction care were implemented through experimentation with available materials. The present study suggested that home care nurses' knowledge of wound management can lead to appropriate MDRPU care. Notably, however, home care and medical institutions differ in background. The findings of the present study indicated the need to combine visiting nurses' expertise with certified nurses' expertise in wound, ostomy, and continence nursing and to educate local medical personnel, nursing care professionals, home care recipients, and their families about the differences between MDRPU and conventional pressure ulcer as well as how to monitor and care for MDRPU to prevent exacerbation. Finally, this study suggested the need to determine patients' self-care ability and families' nursing care ability according to living conditions and changes in the patients and their families. MDRPU prevention and management methods should also be specifically considered.
