A Study to Determine the Prevalence of Pressure Ulcers in Spinal Cord Injury Patients and Underlying Factors (in a Governme :: Nursing Research Project

I have done a research project in fulfillment of the Bachelors of Science in nursing at Rufaida College of nursing, Hamdard University, New Delhi, India. The project was, ‘A study to determine the prevalence of pressure ulcer in spinal cord injury patients and its possible underlying factors in a selected Government hospital of New Delhi in India'. The objectives of the study were, to determine the prevalence of pressure ulcer in spinal cord injury patients and find out the possible underlying factors for the development of pressure sore in spinal cord injury patients. The conceptual framework offered for the study based on the epidemiological concept of interaction between the agent, host and environment. The research approach adopted for the study was descriptive survey method. The tools for the data collection were an observation checklist, an interview schedule and a questionnaire. The observation checklist, used to determine the prevalence of pressure ulcer in spinal injury patients. The investigators used the interview schedule for the spinal cord injury patients, and the questionnaire for nursing staff to find out the possible underlying factors. Five experts from health care profession validated the tool. Purposive sampling technique adopted to select the sample. The sample consists of 54 spinal cord injury patients and 20 nursing staff from the spinal cord injury unit of Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India. The information collected over a period of two weeks. The data analyzed to find out the prevalence of pressure ulcer, their distribution by affected bony prominence and the stages of pressure sore by computing frequency and percentage. The data collected from spinal cord injury patients analyzed under host, agent and environmental factors by computing mean percentages. The significant findings of the study were as follows:- 1. There was a high prevalence (66.67%), of pressure ulcer in spinal cord injury patients. 2. The most affected bony prominence was sacrum (44.44%) and least affected area were ischial tuberosity, lateral malleolus, and toes (2.78%). 3. In most of the patients (47.22%), the pressure ulcers were in the 1st stage. 4. The key factors for the development for pressure ulcer in spinal cord injury patients were the lack of comfort devices (96%), and inadequate nurse- patient ratio (94%). 5. As reported by the nursing staff, the adequate nurse patient ratio (80%), was the dominant factor for the development for pressure ulcer in spinal cord injury patients.