Trial reportBMJ (Clinical research ed.)2006
Randomised, controlled trial of alternating pressure mattresses compared with alternating pressure overlays for the prevention of pressure ulcers: PRESSURE (pressure relieving support surfaces) trial.
Trial report in BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 2006. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 26 papers, 11 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
26 citing papers in PubMed, 11 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 143 citations in OpenAlex.
- Alternating pressure (active) air surfaces for preventing pressure ulcers.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2021Pooled it
- Beds, overlays and mattresses for treating pressure ulcers.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2021Pooled it
- Reactive air surfaces for preventing pressure ulcers.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2021Pooled it
- Foam surfaces for preventing pressure ulcers.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2021Pooled it
- Alternative reactive support surfaces (non-foam and non-air-filled) for preventing pressure ulcers.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2021Pooled it
- Support surfaces for treating pressure ulcers.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2018Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Support surfaces for pressure ulcer prevention.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2015Pooled it
- Sensory environment on health-related outcomes of hospital patients.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2012Pooled it
- Pressure ulcers.BMJ clinical evidence · 2011Pooled it
- Pressure ulcers.BMJ clinical evidence · 2008Pooled it
- Independent risk factors for pressure ulcer development in a high-risk nursing home population receiving evidence-based pressure ulcer prevention: Results from a study in 26 nursing homes in Belgium.International wound journal · 2019Trial
- Trial
- Pressure relieving support surfaces (PRESSURE) trial: cost effectiveness analysis.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2006Trial
- Comparative Effectiveness of Active and Reactive Mattresses in Pressure Injury Healing for Older People in Their Own Homes: A Pragmatic Equivalence Randomised-Controlled Study.Nursing reports (Pavia, Italy) · 2025Article
- Risk Factors for Pressure Injuries in Adult Patients: A Narrative Synthesis.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Review
- The Effect of Support Surfaces on the Incidence of Pressure Injuries in Critically Ill Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.Critical care research and practice · 2018Article
- Exploring the role of pain as an early predictor of category 2 pressure ulcers: a prospective cohort study.BMJ open · 2017Article
- Article
- The prevalence of pain at pressure areas and pressure ulcers in hospitalised patients.BMC nursing · 2013Article
Corrections and comments
- Commented on by
- Commented on by
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
9 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveTo compare whether differences exist between alternating pressure overlays and alternating pressure mattresses in the development of new pressure ulcers, healing of existing pressure ulcers, and patient acceptability.
designPragmatic, open, multicentre, randomised controlled trial.
setting11 hospitals in six NHS trusts.
participants1972 people admitted to hospital as acute or elective patients.
interventionsParticipants were randomised to an alternating pressure mattress (n = 982) or an alternating pressure overlay (n = 990).
main outcome measuresThe proportion of participants developing a new pressure ulcer of grade 2 or worse; time to development of new pressure ulcers; proportions of participants developing a new ulcer within 30 days; healing of existing pressure ulcers; and patient acceptability.
resultsIntention to treat analysis found no difference in the proportions of participants developing a new pressure ulcer of grade 2 or worse (10.7% overlay patients, 10.3% mattress patients; difference 0.4%, 95% confidence interval--2.3% to 3.1%, P = 0.75). More overlay patients requested change owing to dissatisfaction (23.3%) than mattress patients (18.9%, P = 0.02).
conclusionNo difference was found between alternating pressure mattresses and alternating pressure overlays in the proportion of people who develop a pressure ulcer.
trial registrationISRCTN 78646179.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.