Moisture associated skin damage (MASD) in intensive care patients: A Norwegian point-prevalence study

Abstract

Background: Critically ill patients are at risk of developing moisture associated skin damage and pressure ulcers. These conditions may co-exist and be difficult to distinguish, but a simultaneous investigation may provide a true prevalence.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of moisture associated skin damage and associated factors among Norwegian intensive care patients.

Methods: A multi-centre one-day point-prevalence study.

Results: Totally, 112 patients participated in the study. Overall, 15 patients (13%, 15/112) had some type of moisture associated skin damage of which six cases (5%, 6/112) were related to faeces and/or urine (incontinence associated dermatitis). Skin breakdown occurred primarily in the pelvic area. Overall, 87% (97/112) had an indwelling urinary catheter. Stools were reported in 42% (47/112) of the patients on the study day, mostly liquid or semi-liquid. Overall, 11% (12/112) had a faecal management system. Only a few care plans for moisture associated skin damage prevention and care existed.

Conclusion: Patients in this study were vulnerable to skin breakdown in the pelvic area. Nevertheless, a low prevalence of skin breakdown existed. This may relate to intensive care nurses' qualifications, the 1:1 nurse-patient staffing, the high prevalence of urinary catheters and few patients having stools.

Keywords: Critical care nursing; ICU patient; Incontinence associated dermatitis (IAD); Intensive care unit; Moisture associated skin damage (MASD); Norway.

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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