A Program Design to Reduce Chronic Readmissions for Pressure Sores

Abstract

This study reports preliminary findings of 42 spinal cord injury patients who participated in a program designed to heal existent skin problems and to reduce chronic skin readmissions. The results indicate a positive association between the program design components of didactic teaching sessions and specific behavioral outcomes. Program outcome as measured by the presence of intact skin at three months reveals a 78% success rate and a 65% success rate at one year. Further study is needed to evaluate more long-term outcome and to examine further the predictive values of test scores and behavioral compliance as indicators of healthy skin at specified intervals.