Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
HA Young Investigators Session (Projects to be presented by HA staff who had joined HA for 10 years or less)
Authors (including presenting author) :
YUEN TY, TSOI TY, WANG TL, YIP WY
Affiliation :
Tung Wah Eastern Hospital, Medicine & Rehabilitation
Introduction :
Skin maintenance is the primary therapy for wound prevention. Topical administration of essential fatty acids has been found to improve skin hydration and spasticity and to prevent skin breakdown. The most widely used essential fatty acids are hyperoxygenated fatty acids (HOFA), which have been proven to increase blood microcirculation, enhance epidermal cell renewal, repair skin trophicity, improve skin hydration, avoid skin dryness, protect against friction, and increase transcutaneous oxygen pressure. The use of compounds based on HOFA is considered in hospitals, including olive oil.
Objectives :
To analyze the effectiveness of the topical application of HOFA compound in improving skin condition among rehabilitation patients.
Methodology :
A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test single group conducted in Medicine and Rehabilitation Department of Tung Wah Eastern Hospital was performed from 1st to 31st October 2023. 50 patients with high risk of developing skin breakdown by pressure injuries with admission Norton scale 14 or below were included in study. Group of 4 nurses worked for patients from cardiac, stroke and orthopedics rehabilitation ward. Application of olive oil by nurses to patient’s bilateral heel with gentle message twice a day. Pre and post program skin assessment by inspection and palpation under 5 comprehensive components including temperature, turgor, color, moisture level and integrity. Patient satisfaction survey also used to collect patient’s response towards the program. 4 questions using the 5-point Likert scale were designed to assess patient’s satisfaction level towards the effectiveness of skin condition improvement with olive oil on skin application.
Result & Outcome :
100% patients showed improvement on skin moisture and skin protection by remaining skin integrity and 37% patients showed improvement on skin color from purpura to normal skin tone. No pressure injury was developed on heel. Inpatient satisfaction survey, results showed olive oil application satisfaction was significantly high with a mean score of 16.75/20. All respondents agreed or strongly agreed that olive oil could improve and protect their heel skin condition. They also agreed or strongly agreed with the use of olive oil during hospitalization. In addition, 75% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed to continue the use of olive oil for skin protection after discharge and 66.6% of them agreed or strongly agreed to recommend HOFA compound as skin protection products to other patients.
