Avaliação de colchões e superfícies de suporte de um hospital privado

Abstract

Strategies to mitigate the occurrence of pressure injuries are supported by the adoption of health technologies, especially in the use of support surfaces. This study aimed to evaluate the mattresses and support surfaces used in a private hospital institution in terms of type, structure, composition and time of use. Exploratory and descriptive research to evaluate mattresses and support surfaces in a private hospital based on scientific and technical criteria. The first phase included the specifications of seven technical documents on support surfaces and allowed the elaboration of the data collection form. The second phase was carried out from February to April 2023, in the scenario of a private hospital complex located in a municipality in the southern region of the state of Espírito Santo. The sample had 75 support surfaces, two units called A and B. Data were organized and underwent quantitative descriptive analysis. The research had the consent of the institutions and did not require approval from the research ethics committee as it did not involve the participation of human beings. In the urgency and emergency unit of Hospital A, there is no description of the model, date of manufacture, length, width, density, type of mattress foam and time of use. All mattresses were hospital type, simple type and with polyurethane foam with a simple laminar structure and with “single layer” filling, no support surface was used for pressure distribution. In the intensive care, clinical and surgical units of Hospital B, they had polyurethane foam mattresses, with a composite type structure. These bore model identification and were of pressure distribution technology. In the intensive care unit, they also used pneumatic mattresses associated with the composite mattress. Good practices for using support surfaces are proposed, with regard to recommendations for their definition, use and control to achieve quality and safety in health care. Contributes to the direction of new pressure injury prevention measures with regard to professional training and criteria for hospital management on support surfaces. Access to the specification of these criteria is recommended for health professionals, using strategies such as identification of assets, date of beginning of use and differentiation by color or another strategy for identifying the correct side to use the mattress, in addition to controlling the integrity of the support surface with the possibility of replacements.