Measuring Pressure Redistribution Properties of 4 Hospital Bed Surfaces: A Quality Improvement Project

BACKGROUND: Pressure ulcers/injuries are not only prevalent in the long-term care facilities but also in the acute care set-ting. Pressure ulcer development has many contributing factors, including prolonged high surface interface pressure between the skin and mattress surface. PURPOSE: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to measure the pressure redistribution properties of 4 hospital surfaces. METHODS: Pressure measurements were performed on 8 participants lying on 1) standard mattress; 2) standard mattress with a static, air-filled bed overlay placed on top of it; 3) mattress with pulsing technology; and 4) mattress with immersing technology. Participants were volunteers measured while lying in the supine position and, in one instance, in the prone position. Pressures were measured with a full-body interface pressure mapping system. RESULTS: Of the 4 surfaces evaluated, the surface that provided the most effective pressure redistribution properties was the combination of the standard viscoelastic mattress with the static, air-filled overlay. CONCLUSION: These results can help guide surface choice for providing the best pressure redistribution properties in order to help prevent pressure ulcers/injuries.