Utility of a sensor‐based technology to assist in the prevention of pressure ulcers: A clinical comparison

• Published in: International wound journal Vol. 15; no. 6; pp. 1033 - 1044
• Main Authors: Raizman, Rose, MacNeil, Minette, Rappl, Laurie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2018
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Early Diagnosis; Epidermal Cells - physiology; Extracellular Fluid - physiology; Female; Humans; Inventions; Male; Middle Aged; Monitoring, Physiologic - instrumentation; Monitoring, Physiologic - methods; Original; patient safety; pressure ulcer; Pressure Ulcer - diagnosis; Pressure Ulcer - prevention & control; prevention; Preventive Medicine - instrumentation; Preventive Medicine - methods; SEM scanner; subepidermal moisture; Therapies, Investigational - methods; patient safety; subepidermal moisture; SEM scanner; prevention; pressure ulcer
• ISSN: 1742-4801; 1742-481X; 1742-481X
• DOI: 10.1111/iwj.12974

Detection of subcutaneous tissue damage before it is visible can trigger early intervention and decrease hospital‐acquired pressure ulcer (HAPU) rates. The objective of this two‐phase study was to evaluate the clinical utility of the Sub‐Epidermal Moisture (SEM) Scanner (Bruin Biometrics (BBI), LLC), a hand‐held device that assesses increases in interstitial fluid or subepidermal moisture, indicating early tissue damage. Phase 1: Patients were provided standard‐of‐care risk assessment and interventions and were scanned with the SEM Scanner, but the resulting SEM scores were not used to determine interventions. This gave a baseline pressure ulcer incidence rate. Phase 2: This phase is the same as Phase 1 except the resulting SEM scores were used in conjunction with risk assessment scores to determine appropriate interventions and care planning. In Phase 1, 12 of the 89 subjects or 13.5% developed visible pressure ulcers—4 Stage I's, 6 Stage II's, 1 Stage III, and 1 deep tissue injury. In Phase 2, 2 of the 195 subjects or 1.0% developed visible pressure ulcers—1 Stage I and 1 Stage II. Patients in Phase 2 were more incontinent, less mobile, and had longer lengths of stay than those in Phase 1. Use of the Scanner resulted in a 93% decrease in HAPU. No deep injuries developed in Phase 2.