Are There Racial-Ethnic Disparities in Time to Pressure Ulcer Development and Pressure Ulcer Treatment in Older Adults After Nursing Home Admission?. (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bliss, Donna Z.; Gurvich, Olga; Savik, Kay; Eberly, Lynn E.; Harms, Susan; Mueller, Christine; Wyman, Jean F.; Garrard, Judith; Virnig, Beth
• Is Part Of: Journal of aging and health. Volume 27:Number 4(2015:Jun.)
• Page Start: 571
• Page End: 593
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: pressure ulcer -- health disparity -- nursing home; Older people -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1177/0898264314553895
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0898-2643

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess whether there are racial and ethnic disparities in the time to development of a pressure ulcer and number of pressure ulcer treatments in individuals aged 65 and older after nursing home admission.Method: Multi-level predictors of time to a pressure ulcer from three national surveys were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression for White Non-Hispanic residents. Using the Peters–Belson method to assess for disparities, estimates from the regression models were applied to American Indians/Alaskan Natives, Asians/Pacific Islanders, Blacks, and Hispanics separately resulting in estimates of expected outcomes as if they were White Non-Hispanic, and were then compared with their observed outcomes.Results: More Blacks developed pressure ulcers sooner than expected. No disparities in time to a pressure ulcer disadvantaging other racial/ethnic groups were found. There were no disparities in pressure ulcer treatment for any group.Discussion: Reducing disparities in pressure ulcer development offers a strategy to improve the quality of nursing home care.