Evaluation of effectiveness of hydrocolloid dressing vs ceramide containing dressing against pressure ulcers.

OBJECTIVE: Pressure Ulcers (PUs) often is an indication of quality of nurs - ing care as it remains as severe manifestation of the integrity of impaired skin. Our study de - signed to evaluate the effectiveness of hydro - colloid dressings and ceramide dressings in healing of PU. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was done at Chinese hospital between Feb 2014- November 2014. 72 study group patients and 25 control group patients were included in the study. The study group patients were divided into Group A with 24 patients received only or - dinary hydrocolloid dressings, Group B with 24 patients who ceramide containing hydrocolloid dressings and Group C with 24 patients re - ceived both hydrocolloid and ceramide dress - ings. Dressings were applied for 4 weeks. The dressings were changed every 10 days and skin conditions such as pH of the skin, hydra - tion are measured by capacitive method. RESULTS: Among 72 study population 48 (66.7%) were male and 24 (33.3%) were females. Group A with 18 (75%) males and 6 (25%) fe - males, group B with 20 (83.3%) males and 4 (16.7%) females, and group C with 10 (41.7%) males and 14 (58.3%) females. 25 Control group patients with 8 (32%) males and 16 (68%) fe - males. Erythema seen in 4/24 (16.67%) group A patients, group B and C patients had 1/24 (4.17%) erythema. In control group patients 6/25(24%) developed erythema. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, we evaluated the effectiveness of the hydrocolloid dressings and ceramide containing dressings in which ceramide containing dressings showed effec - tive prevention and water holding capacity. Our study highlights that ceramide containing dressings found to be more effective in reduc - ing erythema and improving the healing of PU.