Preventing bed sores in nursing homes by finding early skin changes
Biophysical detection of skin changes to cue pressure injury prevention in nursing homes
This project is testing a new way to find early skin changes that could lead to bed sores, helping nursing home residents avoid these painful injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11137082 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Bed sores, also known as pressure injuries, are painful and dangerous skin injuries that often affect nursing home residents. This project uses a special tool called subepidermal moisture (SEM) assessment, which can find early signs of skin damage before it's visible to the eye. By detecting these changes sooner, nursing staff can take action to prevent bed sores from forming. This new method is especially helpful for people with darker skin tones, where early skin discoloration is harder to see, helping to reduce health differences.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are nursing home residents who are at risk for developing pressure injuries or bed sores.
Not a fit: Patients not residing in nursing homes or those not at risk for pressure injuries would not directly benefit from this specific prevention strategy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly reduce the number of painful and dangerous bed sores experienced by nursing home residents, improving their quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: This approach introduces an innovative biophysical measurement to existing prevention strategies, aiming to improve upon current methods of early detection.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bates-Jensen, Barbara M. — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Bates-Jensen, Barbara M.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.