PRESSURE ULCERS HEALING IN PATIENTS ADMITTED TO HOME CARE SERVICES

Introduction: The high prevalence of pressure ulcers(PU) is found in the literature and in the practice of Home Care Services(HCS). However, little is known about healing in the HCS. Thus, research is needed in this area. Objective: To evaluate the healing of PU in patients from a HCS. Methods: Study conducted at the Home Care Program of Conceição Hospital Group(HCP/CHG). Intentional sample with sequential insertion of the subjects in the study. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected. The healing was evaluated by the Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing(PUSH) and measuring by the lesion area(planimetry and depth). Data were obtained from a patients records and home visits on admission, in four and six weeks. Descriptive and inferential analyzes were performed by statistical program(SPSS18.0). Study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul(n. 965.082). Results: Of the 38 subjects, 50% were male with a higher prevalence of elderly(60.5%). The arterial hypertension was the most prevalent morbidity and stroke was the most frequent diagnosis(28.9%) that indicated the monitoring the HCP/CHG. The median of PU was 2 (P25-75: 1-3), totaling 87 PU and category II (48.3%) and III (35.6%) were predominant. Approximately 50% of PU healed over three weeks. The planimetry, depth and PUSH varied significantly in four and six weeks (p