The purpose of this research brief is to test the effectiveness of a nurse-led pressure ulcer prevention intervention using musical cues to remind all long-term care (LTC) staff to help every resident move or reposition every two hours.

Background

• Pressure ulcers are costly, reduce health-related quality of life, and are an ongoing challenge in LTC facilities.
• Immobility is a primary risk factor for pressure ulcers, and repositioning individuals at high risk for pressure ulcer development is commonly recognized as an effective preventive measure. One reason for the prevalence of pressure ulcers is inconsistent adherence to repositioning protocols.
• Even residents categorized as “low risk” can develop a pressure ulcer if they cannot or do not move enough to redistribute mechanical load. Pressure ulcer prevention initiatives in LTC, which have traditionally targeted only high-risk residents, are not adequately addressing this issue.

Key Findings

• Researchers used the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Minimum Data Set (MDS) 2.0 during the first five months and changed to MDS 3.0 during the final seven months.Odds of a new pressure ulcer were lower in intervention facilities during the first five months (MDS 2.0) and significantly lower during the last seven months (MDS 3.0).
• Using music to prompt multidisciplinary teams to encourage or assist residents with moving holds promise for reducing facility-acquired pressure ulcers in LTC settings.