This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of skin tears (ST) among hospitalized oncology patients and associated demographic and clinical variables. This is an epidemiological cross-sectional study type, performed at Octavio Frias de Oliveira State of São Paulo Cancer Institute. All adult patients hospitalized from April 10th to 18th 2010 were evaluated by interview and physical examination. Chi-square test was used to compare demographic and clinical variables between patients with and without ST. Five patients among 157 had nine skin tears, resulting in a prevalence of 3.3%. Among demographic variables, only number of children showed statistically significant difference (p=0.027) between groups. Clinically, patients with ST had lower Karnofsky scores (p=0.031), lower scores at Braden Scale (p=0.026) and less collaborative behaviors (p=0.042) when compared to patients with no lesions. This study contributes to a better knowledge of ST in oncology patients.

This study aimed to perform a cultural adaptation of the STAR Skin Tear Classification System, to the Portuguese language spoken in Brazil and to test its content validity and the reliability of the adapted version. This is a methodological type of study with a quantitative approach. The cultural adaptation was developed in three stages: translation, evaluation by a judge's committee and back translation. Two measures were tested: content validity and inter-rather reliability. The statistical analysis used the weighted kappa index. The adapted version had a low agreement level (kw = 0,286), although statistically significant (p < 0,000) when tested by nurses in skin tears photographs. When tested in clinical practice, the adapted version achieved a moderate and statistically significant agreement level (kw = 0,596; p < 0,001). The study about the cultural adaptation process and validation of the measure properties of the STAR Skin Tear Classification System confirmed the adapted Brazilian Portuguese version content validity and inter-rather reliability.

Objective: To determine and to analyze pressure ulcers incidence and risk factors, and their relationships with nursing work-load in critical care patients. Methods: As a part of the research project named "Patient safety in intensive care units: the influence of nursing personnel in adverse events occurrence", a retrospective cohort study was taken in nine intensive care units and one semi-intensive care unit in two university hospitals in Sao Paulo. A total of 766 pacients without pressure ulcer 24 hours after their admission in the units were studied. The variables of interest for this study were collected in digitalized records. The statistical analysis were done using cumulative incidence, Pearson´s Chi-Square, Mann-Whitney´s and Logisitic regression (Stepwise Forward) tests. Results: the incidence of pressure ulcers was 18.7%. Patients under mechanical ventilation had a chance 3.5 times higher for developing of pressure ulcer (OR 3.479; IC 95% 2.190-5.528; p < 0.001); being under paliative care augmented 7.8 times the chance for developing pressure ulcer (OR 7.829; IC 95% 1.927-31.817; p = 0.004); for each day more of stay in ICU, the chance of developing pressure ulcers were 10.1% higher (OR 1.101; IC 95% 1.071-1.132; p < 0.001); each point of Nursing Activities Score rose the chance of developing pressure ulcer in 1.5% (OR 1.015; IC 95% 1.003-1.027; p = 0.016); patients between 60 and 84 years-old had a 2.3 higher chance of developing pressure ulcers than patients younger than 45 years-old (OR 2.331; IC 95% 1.283-4.236; p = 0.005) and, after the age of 85, the chance for developing pressure ulcers were 2.7 times higher than in patients younger than 45 years-old (OR 2.695; IC 95% 0.945-7.683; p < 0.064). Conclusion: admitting that pressure ulcers are an adverse effect and that their occurrence is related with poor assistance quality, we can consider the incidence of 18,7% found in this cohort as high. Prevention actions must be enforced to guarantee a decrease in these figures.