Skin tear prevention in elderly patients using twice-daily moisturiser

Skin tears increase morbidity and implicit and explicit costs for the individual and the health care system. A 580- bed private hospital in Brisbane undertook a prospective interventional study and results were compared to historical controls. A purposive sample of patients aged 65 years or older were invited to participate. The intervention was twice daily application of pH-friendly, non-perfumed moisturiser to the extremities. The primary...