AI-assisted skin imaging to help nurses spot and stage pressure injuries in ICU patients
A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Skin Assessment for Pressure Injury Prevention and Staging by Critical Care Nurses
We will test whether an AI-assisted mobile app helps ICU nurses more accurately identify and stage pressure injuries in adult ICU patients and whether it boosts their knowledge and confidence.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 90 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Jeddah, Mecca Region) |
| Trial ID | NCT07318571 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Critical-care nurses at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center–Jeddah will use an AI-assisted mobile application to perform skin assessments on adult ICU patients and will be compared with nurses using standard visual/manual assessment. Nurses will complete brief questionnaires about their knowledge and confidence before and after training and then perform skin assessments on their assigned patients using NPIAP staging criteria, with or without AI support. The primary outcome is staging accuracy, with secondary outcomes including changes in nurses' knowledge and confidence and rates of early pressure-injury identification. The trial focuses on ICU patients without severe dermatologic conditions and will consider typical clinical challenges such as darker skin tones and deep tissue injury.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal participants are ICU nurses employed at KFSHRC-Jeddah for at least six months who provide direct patient care ≥50% of the time, along with their adult ICU patients (≥18) who do not have large open wounds or severe dermatologic conditions.
Not a fit: Patients receiving end-of-life care, those with active large open wounds or severe rashes that interfere with imaging, and patients under 18 are unlikely to benefit from the AI assessment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the AI tool could help nurses detect and stage pressure injuries earlier and more consistently, potentially reducing harm and severity for ICU patients.
How similar studies have performed: AI image-recognition tools for wound and pressure-injury detection have shown promise in research settings, but evidence is mixed and limited in ICU populations and across diverse skin tones.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria * Nurses working within the organisation for at least 6 months * Nurses involved in direct patient care for over 50% of their work time. * Skin assessments and staging for patients at risk for developing pressure injuries (Using the Braden Scoring system). * Adult Patients (18 years and older) * Patients who are currently admitted to the ICU and are receiving critical care treatment. * No current severe skin conditions patients without active severe dermatological conditions (e.g., large open wounds, severe rashes) that would interfere with the AI-based skin assessment process. Exclusion criteria * Nurses working within the organization for less than 6 months * Nurses involved in direct patient care for less than 50% of their work time * End-of-Life Care or Terminal Illness- patients receiving end-of-life care or those with a terminal diagnosis, where the prevention of pressure injuries may not be a priority and where participation in the study may not align with their care goals. * Severe or active dermatological conditions- patients with active skin conditions such as severe rashes, burns, or other dermatological issues that could interfere with accurate skin assessments by AI or confound the study results. * Recent Skin Grafts or Advanced Wound Care- patients who have recently undergone skin grafts or those receiving complex wound care treatments that are outside the scope of typical pressure injury prevention practices. * Inability to Maintain Required Positioning for Skin Assessment- patients who are physically unable to remain in the necessary position for the skin assessments, either due to severe mobility restrictions or critical medical conditions.
Where this trial is running
Jeddah, Mecca Region
- King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center- Jeddah — Jeddah, Mecca Region, Saudi Arabia (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Dr. Jennifer De Beer, PhD
- Email: debeerj@kfshrc.edu.sa
- Phone: +966559232671
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.