The correlation between the risk score and skin injuries in neonatal intensive care units

Background
Preventive activities play an important role in today’s healthcare systems. In this regard, the use of skin injury risk assessment tools in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is advocated as an effective technique to decrease skin injury.

Objectives
This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between risk score and skin injuries in newborns admitted to the NICU.

Material and methods
This descriptive study was conducted on 265 newborns admitted to the NICUs in Tabriz, Iran. For data collection, we used the Skin Risk Assessment and Management Tool (SRAMT). Data was collected by repeated observations of newborns and was analysed using descriptive statistical methods and Spearman’s correlation coefficient.

Results
The mean risk score decreased from 19.85 on the first day of hospitalisation to 13.23 on the twenty-eighth day (scoring range from 8 to 32). During the study, 557 skin injury were reported, 84.91% of which occurred in the first week of hospitalisation. There was also a statistically significant correlation between risk score and skin injury (R = 0.37, p < 0.00).

Conclusions
According to our results, a higher risk score was associated with an increased incidence of skin injuries. Thus, it is recommended that the risk score be developed through utilising risk prediction methods to identify newborns at risk of skin injuries. It is essential to develop skin care programmes and preventative measures in NICUs. Key words: risk factors, skin, wounds and injuries, neonatal intensive care units, newborn infant.