Effectiveness of Devices for Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers: A scoping Review

Abstract

Purpose: Pressure ulcers (PUs) are a common problem affecting the quality of life of patients and also hindering the quality of medical services. The purpose of this scoping review was to analyze Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) focusing on devices used for the prevention and treatment of PUs. Methods: The scoping review was conducted using the scoping review process outlined by Arskey and O’ Malley and using the JBI template. The review was described by PRISMA-ScR. Studies on relevant interventional devices for PUs were searched using electronic databases. The medical databases PubMed, CINHAL, CENTRAL, and EMBASE, and several Korean databases were searched between 2010 and July 2021. Results: Thirteen RCTs were included in the analysis. The devices used were found to be effective in the prevention and treatment of PUs by the mechanisms of either pressure relief, moisture retention, or increased blood flow. The effectiveness of the devices was measured by the incidence of PUs and the improvement in patients’ quality of life and comfort after therapy. Conclusion: The use of devices for the prevention and treatment of PUs is helpful in clinical settings. However, more studies are needed that address the use of these devices in larger populations to improve the quality of patients’ life and medical service.