PRESSURE INJURY HEALING IN PATIENTS FOLLOWED UP BY A HOME CARE SERVICE¹

ABSTRACT

Objective:

to evaluate the healing of pressure injuries in home care patients.

Method:

longitudinal observational study with an intentional sample of 38 patients conducted in a home care service. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected as well as the characteristics of the pressure injuries between April and October of 2015. Healing was evaluated by using the Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing instrument, by measuring planimetry and depth of pressure injuries. Data were collected during home visits at the patient’s admission to the service and then after four and six weeks. Data from patient records were also collected. The comparison of the variables related to healing was performed by using the Friedman test and the Kaplan-Meier method was used for the probability of healing.

Results:

50% of the patients were women and 60.5% were elderly. There was an average of 2 pressure injuries per patient. Pressure injury stage 2 (48.3%) and 3 (35.6%) predominated and 47.1% of the wounds healed. The Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing score, planimetry and depth varied significantly over the study period (p<0.05). The probability of healing increased over time, with the average time of healing being 44 days.

Conclusion:

there was a favorable evolution in healing according to the measurement methods used.

DESCRIPTORS:
Home care services; Home patients; Pressure ulcer; Wound healing; Longitudinal study