PRESSURE INJURY AND FRICTION INJURY IN ELDERLY: EVIDENCE-BASED NURSING PRACTICE

Abstract

Objective: To identify studies of preventive, diagnostic and treatment interventions for Friction Injury and Pressure Ulcer in the elderly, as well as the levels of scientific evidence. Method: Integrative review in the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Database, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied health literature; Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online and Scientific Electronic Library Online, period 2014-2018. The data from the studies were organized and presented in a table and the corpus of analysis was classified according to the evidence level of Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt. Result: 37 articles were identified, two were classified as strong, 10 as moderate and 25 with weak evidence level. The articles originated four thematic categories: Identifying risk factors for the development of lesions; Prevention of maintaining skin integrity; Nursing Diagnosis in Skin Lesions and Treating Friction and Pressure Ulcer. The publications focus on identifying and assessing risks for Pressure Ulcer and, to a lesser extent, for Friction Injuries. The nursing diagnosis has the greatest lack of publications in both cases, but no nursing care was identified for the elderly with friction injury. Conclusion: It is necessary that further studies be clarified in order to strengthen and support the practice of nursing care based on clinical evidence-based.