Prevalence of Skin Tears in a Long-term Care Facility

Abstract

Study findings highlight gaps in our knowledge of skin tears and the need for additional studies to more clearly define their epidemiology.

Skin tear prevalence and associated factors: a systematic review

“…Of these, book chapters, conference abstracts, review studies, case reports, consensus, editorials, guidelines, correspondences, clinical trials, cohort studies and casecontrol were excluded. Remaining only nine studies on the prevalence of ST, of which eight (17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24) met the inclusion criteria and were read in full. The only excluded study (25) did not meet the language criterion, since it was published in Chinese.…”

“…The studies are mostly from Australia (4) (17)(18)(19)21) , predominantly from hospital settings (6) (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24) or homecare (2) (17,18) . Physical examination was the main strategy for data collection, being held in seven studies (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24) . Payne-Martin Classification System for Skin Tears was used by one of the Australian (19) and the Canadian (23) studies.…”

“…Physical examination was the main strategy for data collection, being held in seven studies (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24) . Payne-Martin Classification System for Skin Tears was used by one of the Australian (19) and the Canadian (23) studies. The Brazilian study (22) , as well as Japanese (24) , used the Classification System STAR -Skin tears STAR Skin Tear Classification System.…”

“…The prevalence of ST ranged from 3.3% to 22% in the hospital setting (19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24) and 5.5% to 19.5% in homecare (17)(18) . With regard to risk factors associated with ST, advanced age (3) (17)(18)21) and dependence for basic activities of daily life (3) (19,(22)(23) were the most cited.…”

“…With regard to risk factors associated with ST, advanced age (3) (17)(18)21) and dependence for basic activities of daily life (3) (19,(22)(23) were the most cited. Other factors mentioned were frail elderly (18) , level of mobility, agitated behavior, nonresponsiveness, greater risk for concurrent development of pressure ulcers (22) , cognitive impairment, spasticity (23) and photoaging (24) . One study (20) did not mention risk factors associated with ST.…”