Mobilization and Massage as a Prevention Against Pressure Ulcers: Quasi Experimental Study

Abstract

Bed rest is a condition in which a patient is unable to move and must lie down for about 24 hours. One negative physical impact is damage to skin integrity, commonly known as pressure sores or decubitus ulcers. Efforts to address this problem include mobilization and massage therapy. Mobilization involves changing the patient's position at specific intervals as part of nursing intervention, while massage improves blood circulation. These actions can prevent pressure ulcers. Research was conducted to determine the effect of mobilization and massage on the risk of pressure ulcers in bedridden patients at Dustira Hospital in Cimahi, Indonesia. This research design is a quasi-experiment with a nonequivalent control group. The population consists of all bedridden patients, and the total sample is 62 people. There are 31 patients in the intervention group and 31 patients in the control group. Purposive sampling was used for the sample selection. Pressure ulcer risk was assessed using the Braden scale. After testing the normality of the data using the Shapiro-Wilk test (p < 0.005), the results were analyzed using nonparametric tests namely the Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests. After treatment, the mean score was 40.97 in the intervention group and 22.03 in the control group. The results showed a significant difference in pressure ulcer risk between the two groups after the intervention (p-value = 0.000). This study emphasizes the importance of incorporating pressure ulcer prevention for bedridden or immobilized patients into routine care in regular wards, intensive care units, and other settings where patients are bedridden for extended periods. This approach supports continuous care by addressing the physical and mental needs of patients. Additionally, the findings of this study will serve as the basis for evidence-based interventions to improve the quality of nursing services in hospitals. Furthermore, collaboration among healthcare teams, including doctors, nurses, nutritionists, and others, is essential to optimize care for bedridden patients, regardless of their underlying conditions.