Title: An Critical Evaluation of a Quantitative Research Article Concerning Pressure Ulcer Prevention in Hospitalized Patients
Introduction Pressure ulcers can be a serious healthcare issue that affects hospitalized patients. They lead to higher morbidity and mortality as well as increased healthcare costs. There are several ways to prevent pressure ulcers from developing. The paper reviews a qualitative research article written by Lima Silva et. al. (2019) titled “Effect of a Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program in the Intensive Care Unit” that evaluates the effectiveness of a pressure ulcer prevention program in hospitalized patients.
Methods: The trial design consisted of an randomized controlled study with 240 adults admitted to an ICU. Both the intervention and control groups received pressure ulcer prevention programs, while those in the control received regular care. Incidence of pressure ulcers was the primary outcome. The secondary outcome measured the time it took pressure ulcers develop. Data were analyzed with the Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and the Chi-square test.
Results The study found that the incidence of pressure ulcers in the intervention group was significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.001). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated a significant difference in the time taken for pressure ulcers to develop between the two groups (p < 0.001). According to the authors, the pressure ulcer prevention program is effective at reducing pressure ulcer incidence and delaying the development of them.
Critical Evaluation The study design can be used to assess the effect of a pressure- ulcer prevention program on hospitalized patients. The sample size was sufficient to ensure the study’s power, and the randomization procedure was appropriate to ensure that the groups were comparable. However, the study’s limitations were not discussed, such as the lack of blinding, which could introduce bias.
To measure pressure ulcer incidence and time to develop them, the authors relied on reliable and valid instruments. A statistical analysis showed a clear difference in the incidence of pressure ulcers between both groups. However, they did not provide the effects size which was necessary for determining the practical importance of these findings.
Lima-Silva and colleagues concluded with this study. The study by Lima-Silva and colleagues (2019), provides proof that a pressure ulcer prevention programme can lower the likelihood of pressure ulcers in hospitalized patients. The statistical analysis, study design, sample size and sampling size were all appropriate. However, the absence blinding and small effect sizes are both shortcomings. Nevertheless, this study’s findings support the implementation of a pressure ulcer prevention program in clinical practice to improve patient outcomes.
References Lima-Silva, T. B., Lopes, J. M., Chaves, E. B., Faria, F. A. N., & Simões, R. S. (2019). The Effects of a Pressure Ulcer Prevention Program at the Intensive Care Unit. American Journal of Critical Care, 28(5), 389-395. doi:10.4037/ajcc2019575