Effects of excretion care with a smart automatic defecation treatment system on skin humidity, Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis, and pressure ulcers of patients with incontinence residing in long-term care facilities: Non-equivalent control group non-sy

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of excretion care using a smart automatic defecation treatment system on skin humidity, pressure ulcer (PU) occurrence, and severity of Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis (IAD) among patients with incontinence residing in long-term care facilities. Each patient in the experimental group was fitted with a smart automatic defecation treatment system. The system detected the release of urine/stool via a built-in sensor, followed by suction, cleaning with a water jet, and drying with warm air. Incontinence management for the control group involved the use of wet wipes for cleaning and changing diapers. The nursing interventions lasted for 2 weeks, and data were collected at baseline, week 1, and week 2. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and the repeated-measures analysis of variance were used for data analysis. The analysis revealed statistically significant differences in skin humidity and IAD between the experimental and control groups. This study is pertinent because it demonstrated the positive effects of excretion care using a smart automatic defecation treatment system on skin humidity, PU risk, and IAD among patients with incontinence residing in long-term care facilities. Further research is necessary to investigate additional factors such as pressure and physiological traits.