Ulcer in Elderly Patients Essay Assignment Paper
Ulcer in Elderly Patients Essay Assignment Paper
Statement of the Problem
One of the prevailing issues in the long-term care facility for the elderly is the prevailing incidences of ulcers in elderly patients. Pressure ulcers result in unbearable pain, which significantly reduces comfort for patients; hence, solutions to the issue should be established. The purpose of this paper is to examine the highlighted problem and suggest a strategic plan for change.
What is the Problem?
The primary protocol in use in the current health care system in the prevention of pressure ulcers in patients on long-term care is manual repositioning on the bed. However, this approach has proved to be inadequate in preventing pressure ulcers because incidences of the same are quite common in health care facilities. It is imperative to select the most feasible model to base the required changes because an evidence-based approach should prevail (Mitchell, 2013).
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Reasons for Change
An evidence-based approach has been emphasized by current policies governing the conduct of nurses and doctors. Whenever a given approach for enhancing the quality of health services and the associated outcomes is proved to be insufficient, new paradigms of operation are devised for improvements. In this case, it is apparent that manual repositioning of patients is not adequate for preventing pressure ulcers; hence, a new protocol should be unveiled. Communicating with the patients might be a good start to ensure they are engaged in planning the change (Radtke, 2013). The transition process from the traditional protocol to the proposed protocol should be planned accordingly to ensure that it is applied in agreement to the requirements of the evidence collected on the issue (Mclean, 2011). Ulcer in Elderly Patients Essay
Review of Literature
Franca, Melo, & Araujo (2013) conducted a study to establish whether all elderly patients on long-term care in health care facilities face similar risks in developing pressure ulcers. The study was conducted in organizations that apply Protocol 1286 in handling elderly patients. Findings from the quantitative study revealed that 18.6% of the participants did not show any risk of developing ulcers, while 13.9% of the patients faced a high risk of suffering from lesions. The researchers concluded that since different patients placed under similar care conditions face varying risks of developing pressure ulcers, an individual-based approach should be applied in determining whether manual repositioning is sufficient for mitigating the risk. Ulcer in Elderly Patients Essay
Sullivan & Schoelles (2013) reviewed various components of interventions applied in health care facilities in response to pressure ulcers. The qualitative study highlighted the risks associated with developing ulcers when receiving care on a long-term basis, and some of the solutions that have worked in reducing the risks in various health care facilities. 26 of the studies indicated that the application of several preventive components in the prevention of pressure ulcers is an ideal approach to significantly reduce such cases. The standardization of interventions for the problem, accurate documentation of cases, and the involvement of various inter-professional teams were one of the popular approaches toward reducing the risk of developing pressure ulcers among patients.
Qaseem, Mir, Starkey, & Denberg (2015) conducted a comparative quantitative study that focused on providing guidelines to prevent pressure ulcers in care facilities. The study focused on analyzing the effectiveness of the current guidelines and providing recommendations for the most effective approaches toward reducing the risk of pressure ulcers faced by patients in care facilities. The investigators concluded the study with three recommendations. Firstly, the researchers called for caregivers to assess the risk of developing ulcers for respective patients. Secondly, they suggested the use of static mattresses to reduce the risk of ulcers developing because of the pressure exerted against the mattress by the patient’s body. Lastly, the scholars called for facilities to stop using alternating-air beds because the evidence did not support their viability in preventing pressure ulcers.Ulcer in Elderly Patients Essay
Moore and Webster (2013) conducted a quantitative study aimed at establishing the viability of dressing the main pressure areas in the prevention of pressure ulcers among patients on long-term care in facilities. The researchers established that most ulcers are formed on the pressure areas, which include areas where the skin and the bone are close. Applying to dress in these areas reduced the cases of pressure ulcers significantly. The findings indicate that reducing the pressure on the skin is a viable approach for the elimination of pressure ulcers.Ulcer in Elderly Patients Essay
Synthesis of the Evidence
Based on the reviewed literature, it is apparent that the current protocol in the development of preventive approaches for pressure ulcers is not sufficient for elderly patients in long-term care. The various studies revealed that one of the most effective ways is ensuring that the pressure areas of the patients are cushioned appropriately. Using material such as soft silicone is a viable approach, but it is relatively expensive for the facilities. This approach is viable in the private sector because the facilities have the freedom to offer premium rates for services. However, in the public sector, a cheaper option should be devised to ensure that the cost of health care does not increase.
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