OBJECTIVE: To determine which of three approaches to care produces the lowest incidence of pressure ulcers, promotes the most effective care of sores that develop, and leads to the fewest hospitalizations in newly injured patients with spinal cord injury after discharge. METHODS: Spinal cord injury patients (n = 12) were recruited for a telehealth intervention after initial injury, and matched cases were recruited for telephone counseling and standard care groups. Patients were monitored for 6-8 months after discharge. RESULTS: The video group had the greatest number of reported and identified pressure ulcers. Differences in health care utilization between the video and telephone telehealth groups were small. The standard care group reported the lowest number of pressure ulcers and lowest frequency of health care utilization. Substantial differences existed in employment rates before and after injury. The video group had the lowest pre-injury rate of employment and the highest post-injury rate of employment. CONCLUSIONS: Tracking pressure ulcer incidence, particularly stage I sores, is difficult. Self-report is likely to lead to substantial underreporting. Similarly, self-report on health care utilization over extended periods may lead to undercounting of encounters. Telehealth interventions appear to improve ulcer tracking and management of all ulcer occurrences. Video interventions may affect outcomes, such as employment rates, which are not conventionally measured.
OBJECTIVE: To determine which of three approaches to care produces the lowest incidence of pressure ulcers, promotes the most effective care of sores that develop, and leads to the fewest hospitalizations in newly injured patients with spinal cord injury after discharge. METHODS:Spinal cord injurypatients (n = 12) were recruited for a telehealth intervention after initial injury, and matched cases were recruited for telephone counseling and standard care groups. Patients were monitored for 6-8 months after discharge. RESULTS: The video group had the greatest number of reported and identified pressure ulcers. Differences in health care utilization between the video and telephone telehealth groups were small. The standard care group reported the lowest number of pressure ulcers and lowest frequency of health care utilization. Substantial differences existed in employment rates before and after injury. The video group had the lowest pre-injury rate of employment and the highest post-injury rate of employment. CONCLUSIONS: Tracking pressure ulcer incidence, particularly stage I sores, is difficult. Self-report is likely to lead to substantial underreporting. Similarly, self-report on health care utilization over extended periods may lead to undercounting of encounters. Telehealth interventions appear to improve ulcer tracking and management of all ulcer occurrences. Video interventions may affect outcomes, such as employment rates, which are not conventionally measured.
Authors: Mike Carlson; Cheryl L P Vigen; Salah Rubayi; Erna Imperatore Blanche; Jeanine Blanchard; Michal Atkins; Barbara Bates-Jensen; Susan L Garber; Elizabeth A Pyatak; Jesus Diaz; Lucia I Florindez; Joel W Hay; Trudy Mallinson; Jennifer B Unger; Stanley Paul Azen; Michael Scott; Alison Cogan; Florence Clark Journal: J Spinal Cord Med Date: 2017-04-17 Impact factor: 1.985
Authors: Mary Ann Regan; Robert W Teasell; Dalton L Wolfe; David Keast; William B Mortenson; Jo-Anne L Aubut Journal: Arch Phys Med Rehabil Date: 2009-02 Impact factor: 3.966
Authors: Amanda McIntyre; Stephanie L Marrocco; Samantha A McRae; Lindsay Sleeth; Sander Hitzig; Susan Jaglal; Gary Linassi; Sarah Munce; Dalton L Wolfe Journal: Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil Date: 2020
Authors: Ariel V Dowling; Valerie Eberly; Somboon Maneekobkunwong; Sara J Mulroy; Philip S Requejo; Joseph T Gwin Journal: Assist Technol Date: 2016-09-29
Authors: J H A Bloemen-Vrencken; L P de Witte; J P G M Engels; W J A van den Heuvel; M W M Post Journal: Int J Integr Care Date: 2005 Impact factor: 5.120