Effects of the rubber ball pillow innovation for health to protect pressure sores: A pilot study

Abstract

Problems of pressure ulcers of bed ridden patients often leads to serious complications and greatly affect their well-being. The rubber ball pillow innovation for health to protect pressure sores is one option to minimize sufferings and improve patients’ well-being. The conceptual framework of this study was developed on the basis of Orem Theory on the side of self-care deficit concept and 13 steps of nursing innovation developing concept of Jiraphaet. Objectives: 1) to investigate the results of the rubber ball pillow innovation for health to protect the pressure sore and 2) to examine the level of satisfaction in test Rubber Ball Pillow Innovation. Method: This quantitative research is an innovation development to protect pressure sore made from rubber ball pillow sewn in an L shape and placed on back, coccyx and between the knee joints. Data collections: 1) to assess the risk assessment of pressure ulcer before using innovation 2) to evaluate the progression of pressure ulcer before and after using innovation daily for 4 weeks and 3) to explore the satisfaction of care giver after using innovation for 4 weeks. Research instruments consisted of the Pressure ulcer risk assessment, Pressure Sore Statue Tool (PSST), and the level of satisfaction on innovation questionnaire. A purposive sampling was used to recruit participants, 5 elderly bed ridden patients. The descriptive statistics applied to analyze data were composed of frequency, percentage, mean, and standardized deviation.

Result: Samples of this study were 5 elderly bed ridden male patients. They had an average age of 73 years old. Before using the innovation, overall risk sample was at a high level of pressure ulcer risk assessment (= 10.8, S.D.=0.84). Meanwhile, the progression of pressure ulcers in all 5 patients was not increased from the original pressure ulcer. Namely, after applying the rubber ball pillow innovation, 3 bed ridden patients with old pressure ulcers did not have any additional lesion from the original wounds. Similarly, the 2 bed ridden patients with no pressure ulcers did not develop such. Overall, the level of satisfaction after using innovation of care givers and nurses was at medium range (= 3.38, S.D.=0.15). Conclusion: The rubber ball pillow innovation for health to protect the pressure sore can reduce the incidence of pressure sores for bed ridden patients. However, we should use this innovation which is in line with the traditional pressure ulcer prevention method which includes turning the patient on his/her side every 2 hours for supreme benefit and effectiveness.