Biomedical subjects

Jane Nixon

Publications and source records attributed to Jane Nixon.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

Development of a core descriptor set for studies assessing interventions for diabetes-related foot ulceration.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Foot ulceration is a common complication of diabetes and is associated with high mortality and costs. The quality of evidence to inform clinical practice is limited, partly because clinical studies do not consistently report baseline participant characteristics. This study aimed to develop a core descriptor set (CDS), a minimum set of descriptors to be measured in all studies evaluating interventions for people with diabetes-related foot ulceration. METHODS: A longlist of descriptors was generated through a systematic review of studies assessing interventions for diabetes-related foot ulcers, pre-registered with PROSPERO (CRD42019128250). The identified descriptors were then ranked based on perceived importance by healthcare professionals from different fields and geographical locations using a nine-point Likert scale in the first round of a Delphi survey. Using standardised criteria, descriptors without consensus were re-ranked in round two. Critical descriptors and those without consensus after the Delphi process were discussed in the consensus meeting to finalise the CDS. RESULTS: The systematic review yielded 95 candidate descriptors. The two Delphi rounds were completed by 102 and 69 healthcare professionals, respectively. The Delphi process identified 34 critically important descriptors and 13 descriptors without consensus, which were discussed in the consensus meeting. The ratified CDS included 28 descriptors across nine domains: demographic variables; individual factors; ulcer characteristics; limb characteristics; ongoing medical interventions; previous surgical interventions; medication history; biochemical measurements; and quality of life/function/symptoms. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: This CDS reflects characteristics important to health professionals and researchers when reporting clinical studies on diabetes-related foot ulceration. Its use will aid the reporting of future studies.

Humans↗

PubMed2006

Randomised, controlled trial of alternating pressure mattresses compared with alternating pressure overlays for the prevention of pressure ulcers: PRESSURE (pressure relieving support surfaces) trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare whether differences exist between alternating pressure overlays and alternating pressure mattresses in the development of new pressure ulcers, healing of existing pressure ulcers, and patient acceptability. DESIGN: Pragmatic, open, multicentre, randomised controlled trial. SETTING: 11 hospitals in six NHS trusts. PARTICIPANTS: 1972 people admitted to hospital as acute or elective patients. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomised to an alternating pressure mattress (n = 982) or an alternating pressure overlay (n = 990). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The proportion of participants developing a new pressure ulcer of grade 2 or worse; time to development of new pressure ulcers; proportions of participants developing a new ulcer within 30 days; healing of existing pressure ulcers; and patient acceptability. RESULTS: Intention to treat analysis found no difference in the proportions of participants developing a new pressure ulcer of grade 2 or worse (10.7% overlay patients, 10.3% mattress patients; difference 0.4%, 95% confidence interval--2.3% to 3.1%, P = 0.75). More overlay patients requested change owing to dissatisfaction (23.3%) than mattress patients (18.9%, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: No difference was found between alternating pressure mattresses and alternating pressure overlays in the proportion of people who develop a pressure ulcer. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN 78646179.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Pressure relieving support surfaces (PRESSURE) trial: cost effectiveness analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the cost effectiveness of alternating pressure mattresses compared with alternating pressure overlays for the prevention of pressure ulcers in patients admitted to hospital. DESIGN: Cost effectiveness analysis carried out alongside the pressure relieving support surfaces (PRESSURE) trial; a multicentre UK based pragmatic randomised controlled trial. SETTING: 11 hospitals in six UK NHS trusts. PARTICIPANTS: Intention to treat population comprising 1971 participants. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Kaplan Meier estimates of restricted mean time to development of pressure ulcers and total costs for treatment in hospital. RESULTS: Alternating pressure mattresses were associated with lower overall costs (283.6 pounds sterling per patient on average, 95% confidence interval--377.59 pounds sterling to 976.79 pounds sterling) mainly due to reduced length of stay in hospital, and greater benefits (a delay in time to ulceration of 10.64 days on average,--24.40 to 3.09). The differences in health benefits and total costs for hospital stay between alternating pressure mattresses and alternating pressure overlays were not statistically significant; however, a cost effectiveness acceptability curve indicated that on average alternating pressure mattresses compared with alternating pressure overlays were associated with an 80% probability of being cost saving. CONCLUSION: Alternating pressure mattresses for the prevention of pressure ulcers are more likely to be cost effective and are more acceptable to patients than alternating pressure overlays.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Skin alterations of intact skin and risk factors associated with pressure ulcer development in surgical patients: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The pathology literature suggests three types of pressure ulcer with six possible mechanisms leading to tissue breakdown. A limitation of current evidence is the difficulty in replicating the clinical situation and in determining the point at which a tissue assault becomes irreversible and results in tissue breakdown. In particular clinical observations of alteration in darkly pigmented skin, blanching erythema, non-blanching erythema and non-blanching erythema with other skin changes including induration, oedema, pain, warmth or discolouration have not been assessed in relation to subsequent skin/tissue loss and their pathophysiological and aetiological importance is not fully understood. OBJECTIVES: To assess the validity of clinical signs of erythema as predictors of pressure ulcer development and identify variables which independently are predictive of Grade 2 pressure ulcer development. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: 109 general, vascular and orthopaedic hospital patients, aged over 55 years with an expected length of stay of 5 days were recruited. Of these 97 were pressure ulcer free at baseline and/or had complete follow-up including 59 women and 38 men with a median age of 75 years (range 55-95). SETTING: Single centre large acute UK NHS hospital. METHODS: To identify clinical signs of erythema predictive of skin loss, the odds of pressure ulcer development were examined using logistic regression. To identify variables independently predictive of Grade 2 pressure ulcer development logistic regression modeling was undertaken. RESULTS: There was significantly increased odds of pressure ulcer development associated with non-blanching erythema (7.98, p=0.002) and non-blanching erythema with other skin changes (9.17, p=0.035). Logistic regression modeling identified non-blanching erythema, pre-operative albumin, weight loss, and intra-operative minimum diastolic blood pressure, as independent predictors of Grade > or =2 pressure ulcer development. CONCLUSIONS: Non-blanching erythema with or without other skin changes is distinct from normal skin/blanching erythema and is associated with subsequent pressure ulcer development.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Case reviews: promoting shared learning and collaborative practice.

This article identifies the way a hospice team and their community colleagues are taking a different approach to the case review process, aimed at enhancing professional development and palliative care practices by fostering multiprofessional relationships. Case reviews or studies are a traditionally recognized teaching and learning strategy. This group takes a different view of the case review process and uses it as a proactive learning tool, valued by the participants. The audit of the process highlights how this forum assists in the development of mutual trust and respect among teams. The formal evaluation has shown evidence of improved communication and challenged thinking in relation to changing practice. The results of this experience could be considered in other areas where multiprofessional teamwork is essential.

Community Health Nursing↗

PubMed2006

Pressure ulcers.

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Bandages↗

PubMed2005

Reliability of pressure ulcer classification and diagnosis.

AIM: To assess the inter-rater reliability of the PRESSURE Trial pressure ulcer diagnosis (>/=Grade 2) and skin classification for all grades between the clinical research nurse (CRN) team leader and CRNs working across different hospital sites; and CRNs and ward-based nurses. BACKGROUND: The United Kingdom National Health Service Health Technology Assessment Programme has funded a multi-centre, randomized controlled trial to compare the clinical and cost-effectiveness of alternating pressure mattress overlays and mattress replacements - PRESSURE Trial. Outcome skin assessments were recorded by qualified ward-based nurses daily, and expert CRNs twice weekly. METHOD: Paired assessments were undertaken and skin assessed on seven body sites. The per cent agreement between nurses in the diagnosis of a pressure ulcer was determined and the Kappa statistic and confidence intervals calculated. Per cent agreement between nurses in classifying skin for all grades was also determined. RESULTS: Assessments were undertaken by 378 pairs: 16 paired patient assessments (107 site comparisons) by the CRN team leader and CRNs, and 362 paired patient assessments (2396 site comparisons) between CRNs and ward-based nurses. There was 100% agreement between the CRN team leader and CRNs in the diagnosis of a pressure ulcer, and the Kappa statistics indicated 'very good' agreement. There were only two (1.9%) disagreements in classifying skin for all grades between these nurses. The agreement in the diagnosis of a pressure ulcer between CRNs and ward-based nurses varied by skin site, ranging from 93.6% to 100%, with the Kappa statistics indicating 'good' and 'very good' agreement. However, there were 508 (21.2%) disagreements in classifying skin for all grades. CONCLUSIONS: Overall agreement and Kappa statistics indicated 'very good' and 'good' agreement between expert nurses, and between expert nurses and qualified ward-based staff, respectively. However, the high prevalence of normal skin concealed clinically important disagreements in both the diagnosis of pressure ulcers and skin classification for all grades.

Buttocks↗

PubMed2005

Pressure sores.

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Bandages↗

PubMed2004

Pressure sores.

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Beds↗

PubMed2003

A nurse-led randomised trial of pressure-relieving support surfaces.

A nurse-led trial is currently collecting data comparing interventions for the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers. The aim is to provide reliable guidance on the relative merits of alternating-pressure mattresses and overlays for people at moderate to high risk of pressure ulceration. This paper outlines the main objectives, methodology and progress of the study.

Beds↗

PubMed2002

Pressure sores.

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Humans↗

PubMed2002

Pressure sores.

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Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pathology, diagnosis, and classification of pressure ulcers: comparing clinical and imaging techniques.

Pressure ulcer classification systems are based on the clinical manifestations of the skin and tissue layer affected rather than underlying pathology. The objective of this study was to compare the validity of the clinical grading of erythema (blanching and nonblanching) with a measurement of skin perfusion. Therefore, an exploratory study comparing erythema with laser Doppler imaging of the sacrum and buttock skin areas was undertaken. Acute and major elective general, vascular, and orthopedic surgical in-patients, aged 55 years or over with an expected length of hospital stay of 5 or more days were recruited. Fifty laser Doppler images from 37 patients were obtained and included in a discriminant analysis. Discriminant analysis suggested that blanching and nonblanching erythema were physiologically distinct from "normal" skin; clinically, these could be assessed with reasonable accuracy. Imaging also determined that high blood flow of differing intensity characterized blanching and nonblanching erythema. There was no evidence of the "no flow" phenomenon.

Aged↗