FULL-BODY INTERFACE PRESSURE TESTING AS A METHOD FOR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF CLINICAL SUPPORT SURFACES

A method for evaluating the performance of clinical support surfaces i s required by designers in their efforts to produce better clinical su pport surfaces that will reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers. In t his study, a Pressure Index (P-index) is defined which is derived from an analytical equation used to evaluate the average interface pressur e, the peak pressure, the magnitude of the peak pressure, and the numb er of peak pressures on the entire body. The type of subjects needed t o represent a population of users as well as the head of bed elevation s necessary to simulate clinical applications were integrated with the Finder to create a single-value mean pressure index which can be used to evaluate any type of surface. To determine the accuracy and repeat ability of the mean pressure index, three surfaces (a standard hospita l innerspring, a replacement foam mattress, and a low-airless surface) were tested and evaluated using this method. The low airless performe d the best and the standard innerspring clearly performed the worst (p < 0.0001). The method appeared to accurately and reproducibly predict the relative performance of the three surfaces in reducing pressure. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.