Comparing Pressure Injury Occurrence in Patients Using Two Different Mattresses

The investigators will conduct a randomized cross over testing, where the purpose is to compare an intervention mattress and a regular care mattress in relation to occurrence of pressure relief, experienced sleep comfort, pain and quality of life in the participants. Further on, the investigators want to examine staff needed to assist in position change of the participants, as well as physical strain for the staff.

To secure safe use of the intervention mattress, a noise-test and a pressure assessment test of the mattresses have been performed in advance of the research project. A pressure limit is defined, based on current evidence based knowledge regarding pressure injury risk. If this limit is exceeded during the project period, the participant will be excluded from further testing, due to a potential increased risk of pressure injury development.

Written and oral information regarding the project will be given, and the participants will give a written concent before inclusion.

The regular care mattress, used as control in this trial, is considered one of the best pressure relieving mattresses available in Norway.

Ten participants will be included and randomized to start with the intervention mattress or the control mattress. Baseline data regarding gender, age, level and severity of the spinal injury, together with pressure injury associated dysfunction, like increased sweat, bladder and bowel incontinency will be collected immediately after inclusion. The investigators will also ask for information of comorbidity previous to the spinal injury, including cardiovascular disease, embolisms or diabetes mellitus.

Pressure monitoring will be performed before start up, and validated questionnaires will be used in assessing pressure injury risk, pain and quality of life. Pressure injury occurrence will be assessed every day. After seven days use of the first mattress, new data will be collected, by means of validated forms regarding pain occurrence, noise from the mattress devices, sleeping wellness and participant satisfaction. Custom made forms regarding resource use in the nursing staff, especially at night and in relation to position change, will be collected, together with data regarding physical strain in the staff.

The participant will then change to the other mattress and pressure monitoring will be performed. If acceptable results, the participant will use this mattress for seven days. Pressure injury occurrence will be assessed every day. Then a end-of-study data assessment will be performed, similar to the questionnaires used in the intervention mattress.

Finally, in-depth interviews will be performed in one participants and one nurse finishing the study on the intervention mattress, and one participant and one nurse finishing the study, using the control mattress.

Inclusion criteria

• > 18 years of age
• SCI, neurological disease with paralysis or multi trauma, all with lack of independency in position change in bed, and hospitalized for primary rehabilitation in either the Spinal Cord Unit (SCU) or the Multi trauma, Neurological disease, Burn (MNB) Unit
• Requires manual position change
• Medically approved for the participation by the participant's physician
• Able to give consent to participate
• Psychically and cognitively able to properly answer the questionnaires
• Speaks/understands Norwegian language

Exclusion criteria

• Ongoing pressure injury
• External fixation, except neck collar
• Body weight > 150 kg
• pre-test pressure assessment above the maximum pressure limit.