Risk of skin tears and its predictors among hospitalized older adults in Singapore

Abstract

Aim:To identify the characteristics that may be predictive of development of risk of skin tears among hospitalized older adults in Singapore.Background: Skin tears are wounds that are partial or full-thickness separation of skin layers, which are common in older adults. Skin tears can result from shearing, friction, and/or blunt force. Skin tears have correlated with prolonged hospitalization, raised health-care costs and poorer quality of life. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive correlational study recruited a convenience sample of 140 patients aged 65 years or above from a Singapore acute hospital. A modified International Skin Tear Advisory Panel (ISTAP) Skin Tear Risk AssessmentPathway was used for data collection; this is a validated instrument to assess patients for risks of skin tears in clinical settings. Results:The results of the multiple linear regression analysis indicated that increasing age, being underweight, caregiver-dependence and dementia predicted higher levels of risk of skin tears among hospitalized older adults in Singapore. These factors accounted for 33.6% of the variance. Conclusion:This study can aid health-care professionals assess patients' risk of skin tears and implement appropriate interventions to minimize risks of skin tears. K E Y W O R D Sinjuries, nursing, quality of life, risk assessment, skin tear SUMMARY STATEMENTWhat is already known about this topic?• Skin tears run risk of becoming complicated chronic wounds and can progress into ulcerations or cellulitis.• Skin tears have been correlated to prolonged hospitalization and raised costs of health care in addition to unfavourable effects on an individual's quality of life.• Skin tears may thus become a more pressing and prevalent issue as the population ages, and appropriate attention will be required in

Models for predicting skin tears: A comparison

“…Model 8, a cross‐sectional descriptive correlational study of 140 patients aged over 65 years from a Singapore hospital was conducted by Soh et al (2019) over a one‐month period. The authors used a modified International Skin Tear Advisory Panel Risk Assessment Pathway and determined that the mean skin tear risk score was 7.19 (SD = 2.40).…”

“…While eight models were identified, the Koyano et al, the Bermark et al, the Van Tiggelen et al, and Soh et al models were excluded from further assessment owing to the type of analysis or research design used. The Koyano et al model (Model 4) used survival analysis to calculate the specific effects of skin properties on skin tear occurrence .…”

“…The Koyano et al model (Model 4) used survival analysis to calculate the specific effects of skin properties on skin tear occurrence . Three models, Bermark et al (Model 5), Van Tiggelen et al (Model 7), and Soh et al (Model 8) used a prevalence study research design that made it difficult to establish the temporal relationship between exposure and the occurrence of skin tears. Only prospective cohort studies were included in this comparison study to minimise the problem of determining the cause and effect, which is associated with prevalence or cross‐sectional studies …”

“…This paper compares the relative performance of published age‐related skin tear risk prediction models in terms of their prediction capacity, ease of measuring variables, and practicality regarding time and expense for use in clinical practice . In total, eight published skin tear models were identified, four were excluded because of limitations in research design, only one model had been validated in an external population and none were routinely used in the clinical settings.…”

Caracterização da produção científica acerca das lesões por fricção: revisão integrativa

“…Assim, caracteriza-se como grupo de risco os idosos, pacientes em cuidados críticos, com doenças crônicas e pacientes que necessitam de auxílio para as atividades de vida diária. As LFs podem acontecer em qualquer parte do corpo, no entanto a maior ocorrência é nas extremidades dos membros superiores, inferiores, costas e nádegas (Soh Z, et al, 2019;Lopes et al, 2011).…”