Comparison of pressure ulcer treatments in long-term care facilities: clinical outcomes and impact on cost

J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2005 May-Jun;32(3):163-70. doi: 10.1097/00152192-200505000-00004.

Abstract

This study compared clinical outcomes and nursing labor costs associated with (a) balsam Peru, hydrogenated castor oil, and trypsin (BCT) ointment; (b) BCT + Other; and (c) Other treatments in 2014 wound episodes occurring in 861 patients (mean 2.34 wounds/patient). Treatment with BCT ointment or BCT + Other was associated with a higher healing rate (P < .05). No Stage 1 or 2 ulcer treated with BCT ointment progressed, compared with 13.8% treated with BCT + Other and 13.4% treated with Other. The reported mean duration of treatment and time to heal were shorter for ulcers treated with BCT ointment, but differences did not reach significance, possibly because of the variability in reported treatment times. Mean daily nursing labor costs were lower for treatment with BCT than Other ($50.8 vs $61.7, P < .05). These data suggest that treatment of Stage 1 or 2 ulcers with BCT may be associated with shorter treatment time and time to heal and a potential reduction in treatment-related nursing labor costs.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Balsams / economics
  • Balsams / therapeutic use*
  • Castor Oil / analogs & derivatives*
  • Castor Oil / economics
  • Castor Oil / therapeutic use
  • Cost of Illness
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Female
  • Health Care Costs
  • Humans
  • Long-Term Care / economics
  • Long-Term Care / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nursing Administration Research
  • Nursing Evaluation Research
  • Nursing Homes
  • Nursing Staff / economics
  • Pressure Ulcer / economics
  • Pressure Ulcer / therapy*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Skin Care* / economics
  • Skin Care* / methods
  • Skin Care* / nursing
  • Surface-Active Agents / economics
  • Surface-Active Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Time and Motion Studies
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Trypsin / economics
  • Trypsin / therapeutic use*
  • United States
  • Workload / economics
  • Wound Healing

Substances

  • Balsams
  • Surface-Active Agents
  • polyethoxylated castor oil
  • Castor Oil
  • Peruvian balsam
  • Trypsin