Frequency of turning in bed at home in persons with chronic spinal cord injury
Publications
Model System:
SCI
Reference Type:
Journal article
Accession No.:
J89354
Journal:
Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine - JSCM (formerly Journal of the American Paraplegia Society)
Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):
, 45, 3, 390-394
Publication Website:
Abstract:
Study determined the routine turning frequency of people with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) in bed at night in their home environment. An online questionnaire consisting of 22 questions on turning frequency was administered to adults aged 18 to 75 years, with a traumatic SCI for at least 3 months, and who were living at home. Eighty-six subjects (70 men) completed the survey (66.3 percent with tetraplegia and 41.9 percent with a neurological complete SCI). Almost every participant (96 percent) recalled being counseled on the importance of turning in bed at night upon discharge from their rehabilitation facility with 48.4 percent recalling the frequency recommended as every 2 hours. Currently, 25.6 percent of subjects reported turning every 2 hours, 15.1 percent every 3 hours, 15.1 percent every 4 hours, 3.5 percent every 6 hours, and 40.7 percent of respondents stated that they do not turn regularly at night. The reasons for limited turning may be multifactorial, however, this finding may serve as a call to practitioners to best determine the most appropriate turning frequency that can meet compliance of the individual with SCI, as well as maintain skin protection in the chronic period after injury.
