Retrospectively Examining the Probability of Acute Skin Failure among Hospitalized Patients with Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries
Abstract
Introduction: Acute skin failure (ASF) in hospitalized patients is a growing concern and a product of multisystem organ failure. Unlike hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs), they are not preventable despite prevention measures. The Skin Failure Clinical Indicator Scale (SFCIS) was recently developed to assess the probability of ASF.
Purpose: To retrospectively examine the probability of and factors associated with ASF in hospitalized patients with documented HAPIs.
Methods: Data were collected from the electronic health records of in-patients with stage 3 or greater HAPIs admitted over a two-year period. Collection included demographics, comorbidities, COVID status, wound staging, injury location, SFCIS, and additional clinical indicators. The data analysis plan included descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and multiple linear regression analysis.
Results: With a sample of 104 patients’ medical records, the SFCIS scores showed a 44% with moderate ASF probability, 34% low probability, and 22% high probability. Correlation analyses showed the following statistically significant positive and negative relationships with SFCIS scores: negative, age; positive, total length of stay (LOS); intensive care unit LOS; admitting diagnosis; comorbidity-cardiovascular disease; and COVID-19 positive.
Discussion: Distinguishing between ASF and HAPIs is paramount to diagnosis accuracy. Alarmingly, when considering high and moderate probability together, 66% of the sample may have possibly had ASF provided that all prevention measures were in place. The results provide valuable insight to support incorporation of ASF probability assessment to nursing practice to promote early identification, thus potentially preventing HAPI misidentification and the associated negative sequelae. However, more research on the SFCIS’s reliability and validity are needed.
Publication Date
Fall 10-7-2025
Presented At:
American Nurses Enterprise 2025 Research Symposium
Content Type
Presentation
Citation
Bermudez, Natalie and Hatch, Tori, "Retrospectively Examining the Probability of Acute Skin Failure among Hospitalized Patients with Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries" (2025). All Publications. 6242.
https://scholarlycommons.baptisthealth.net/se-all-publications/6242