Core body temperature, skin temperature, and interface pressure. Relationship to skin integrity in nursing home residents.

OBJECTIVE

To ascertain the effects of 1-, 1 1/2-, and 2-hour turning intervals on nursing home residents' skin over the sacrum and trochanters.

HYPOTHESES: (1) the higher the core body temperature, the higher the skin surface temperature; (2) the 2-hour turning interval would have significantly higher skin surface temperature; (3) there would be no relationship between skin surface temperature and interface pressure; and (4) the sacrum would have the lowest skin surface temperature.

DESIGN

Modified Latin-square.

SETTING

For-profit nursing home.

PARTICIPANTS

Convenience sample of 26 residents who scored < 3 on the Short Portable Mini-Mental Status Questionnaire and did not have (1) open wounds; (2) albumin levels < 3.3 mg/dL; (3) severe arthritis; (4) cortisone, anticoagulation, insulin therapy or 3 medications for hypertension; and/or (5) were totally bedridden.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): First Temp measured core temperature; a disposable thermistor temperature probe, skin temperature; and a digital interface pressure evaluator, the interface pressure.

RESULTS

Negative correlation (r = -.33, P = .003) occurred between core body temperature and skin surface temperature. Skin surface temperature rose at the end of the 2-hour turning interval but was not significant (F = (2.68) = .73, P = .49). Weak negative relationship (r = -12, P = .29) occurred between skin surface temperature and interface pressure, and sacral skin surface temperature was significantly lower for the left trochanter only (F = (8.68) = 7.05, P = .002).

CONCLUSION

Although hypotheses were not supported, more research is needed to understand how time in position and multiple chronic illnesses interact to affect skin pressure tolerance.