My career objective is to contribute to the development of improved evidence based approaches in geriatric medicine. In particular, I am interested in understanding and improving the translation of basic science knowledge into national guidelines for geriatric care and then into clinical practice. In support of this goal, the proposed research will examine the appropriateness and implementation of guidelines for the prevention of pressure ulcers, a common complication of hospitalization among the elderly that result in costs of more than $2 billion. National guidelines for prevention of pressure ulcers recommend that at-risk patients use pressure-redistributing support surfaces and that bedbound patients receive both manual repositioning and pressure-redistributing support surfaces. Our prior analyses have shown that pressure-redistributing devices are commonly used by elderly hospital patients, but that the incidence of pressure ulcers in these patients remains high. It is critical to determine if the use of these two recommended prevention methods are effective at reducing the incidence of pressure ulcers;only one prior study has included both of these methods in an evaluation of effectiveness. Furthermore, it is critical to determine whether these guidelines are being properly implemented. It is a common but unproven perception among hospital staff that the use of pressure-reducing devices decreases the need for manual repositioning. No study has examined whether bedbound patients using pressure-redistributing devices are repositioned less frequently than those not using such a device;if found to be the case, this would represent an improper application of guidelines. To investigate the appropriateness and implementation of guidelines for the prevention of pressure ulcers, this research proposes to: 1) determine if the use of pressure-redistributing support surfaces is associated with reduced incidence of pressure ulcers;2) determine whether the incidence of pressure ulcers is reduced for bedbound patients repositioned according to guidelines, compared to bedbound patients who did not receive this intervention;and 3) determine whether repositioning is as common in bedbound patients using pressure-redistributing support surfaces as in those not using these devices, as is recommended by guidelines. A study of pressure ulcer prevention guidelines is particularly timely as recent policy changes have classified the development of pressure ulcers as an indicator of quality of care.

Public Health Relevance

Pressure ulcers are a common problem for elderly persons in health care settings. Determining whether or not current guidelines for the prevention of pressure ulcers are appropriate will help to ensure that programs to prevent pressure ulcers are as effective as possible

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Individual Predoctoral NRSA for M.D./Ph.D. Fellowships (ADAMHA) (F30)
Project #
1F30AG034008-01
Application #
7672625
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F16-Z (20))
Program Officer
Nayfield, Susan G
Project Start
2009-03-01
Project End
2012-07-31
Budget Start
2009-03-01
Budget End
2010-02-28
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$38,111
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Maryland Baltimore
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
188435911
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21201
Baumgarten, Mona; Rich, Shayna E; Shardell, Michelle D et al. (2012) Care-related risk factors for hospital-acquired pressure ulcers in elderly adults with hip fracture. J Am Geriatr Soc 60:277-83
Koshy, Matthew; Rich, Shayna; Merchant, Thomas E et al. (2011) Post-operative radiation improves survival in children younger than 3 years with intracranial ependymoma. J Neurooncol 105:583-90
Rich, Shayna E; Shardell, Michelle; Hawkes, William G et al. (2011) Pressure-redistributing support surface use and pressure ulcer incidence in elderly hip fracture patients. J Am Geriatr Soc 59:1052-9
Rich, Shayna E; Kuyateh, Fatmatta M; Dwyer, Diane M et al. (2011) Trends in self-reported health care provider recommendations for colorectal cancer screening by race. Prev Med 53:70-5
Rich, Shayna E; Margolis, David; Shardell, Michelle et al. (2011) Frequent manual repositioning and incidence of pressure ulcers among bed-bound elderly hip fracture patients. Wound Repair Regen 19:10-8
Koshy, Matthew; Rich, Shayna E; Mahmood, Usama et al. (2010) The Declining Utilization of Radiation Therapy in Stage I and II Hodgkin's Disease and its Impact on Survival and Secondary Malignancies. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 78:S65-S66
Koshy, Matthew; Rich, Shayna E; Mohiuddin, Majid M (2010) Improved survival with radiation therapy in high-grade soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities: a SEER analysis. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 77:203-9