An RCT on Preventing Pressure Ulcers With Wheelchair Seat Cushions

Not Applicable

Completed

Conditions: Pressure Ulcer

Interventions: Device: Segmented Foam Wheelchair Seat Cushion
Device: Skin Protection Wheelchair Seat Cushion

Registration Number: NCT00178126

Lead Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh

Brief Summary: The primary aim of the proposed multi-site, randomized pressure-reducing wheelchair trial (PRWC-II) is to determine the efficacy of pressure-reducing cushions in preventing sitting-acquired pressure ulcers in the elderly, nursing home population. Positive results of the proposed trial will provide the level of evidence needed to change the standard of care to include the routine evaluation of at-risk residents for seating and positioning needs and the provision of pressure-reducing cushions as a preventive measure against sitting-acquired pressure ulcers. If our hypothesis is valid, such intervention should result in a decrease in the incidence and prevalence of sitting-acquired pressure ulcers, reduced healthcare costs, and improved quality of life.

Detailed Description: Pressure ulcers (aka pressure sores, bed sores and decubitus ulcers) are a significant healthcare problem for the growing number of United States elderly long-term care (LTC) residents. Pressure ulcers (PU) diminish quality of life, exact a devastating loss of function, increase the risk of death in geriatric populations and raise healthcare costs.

Despite Federal preventive mandates for the long-term care (LTC) setting, widespread non-compliance occurs. The last three Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) LTC surveys showed a cumulative increase of 21% in the number of citations issued for failure to provide proper intervention to prevent or treat pressure ulcers. Costs for the management of PU in the US likely exceed $6.4 billion annually with a prevalence of approximately 28% in the LTC population.

Estimates of the number of sitting-acquired PU in the elderly, at-risk population range from 36-50%. Several studies, including our own pilot investigation, support these estimates and have suggested that the use of wheelchair cushions designed to reduce interface pressure will reduce the incidence of sitting-acquired PU. Despite this evidence, elderly wheelchair users are not routinely evaluated for seating and positioning needs as definitive studies have not been completed to justify funding for such seating interventions. Consequently, elderly Medicare beneficiaries are being denied access to medically necessary and clinically appropriate interventions and instead are most frequently provided with convoluted or segmented-foam cushions that are not designed for pressure ulcer prevention.

The primary aim of the proposed multi-site, randomized pressure-reducing wheelchair trial (PRWC-II) is to determine the efficacy of pressure-reducing cushions in preventing sitting-acquired pressure ulcers in the elderly, nursing home population. Positive results of the proposed trial will provide the level of evidence needed to change the standard of care to include the routine evaluation of at-risk residents for seating and positioning needs and the provision of pressure-reducing cushions as a preventive measure against sitting-acquired pressure ulcers. If our hypothesis is valid, such intervention should result in a decrease in the incidence and prevalence of sitting-acquired pressure ulcers, reduced healthcare costs, and improved quality of life.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 232

Inclusion Criteria

65 and older
use wheelchair > 6 hours per day
no pressure ulcer on sitting surface
Braden score of 18 or less
combined activity and mobility Braden sub-score of 5 or less

Exclusion Criteria

Body Weight exceeds 250 lbs.
Hip Width exceeds 20 inches
does not meet all criteria of seating needs assessment
current use of cushioning material or wheelchair better than study devices

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Segmented Foam Cushion	Segmented Foam Wheelchair Seat Cushion	Receive seating assessment, wheelchair and seat cushion representing the standard of care in nursing homes
Skin Protection Cushion	Skin Protection Wheelchair Seat Cushion	Receive seating assessment, wheelchair and cushion meeting CMS code for Skin Protection Wheelchair Cushion

Primary Outcome Measures