Effects of skin care education for care staff at elderly care facilities on skin conditions of the residents

Abstract

Asteatosis is common in elderly people due to a decrease in the moisture content of the epidermal stratum corneum through a loss of skin barrier function caused by aging. Because itching often accompanies asteatosis, this condition may cause a decrease in quality of life. Care staff in elderly care facilities have many opportunities to provide care for residents. In this study, we examined how educational training on skin care changed the thoughts and actions of care staff in these facilities and how these changes impacted the skin conditions of residents. The subjects for the training were all care staff in facilities because these staff work most closely with facility residents. We performed skin care training for the subjects and investigated changes in the skin conditions of the residents before and after the training. The training promoted the understanding of skin care among the care staff and improved the skin symptoms of residents with asteatosis. However, there were no changes in the severity of itchiness based on a verbal rating scale and in interviews of residents. This study showed that skin care training for the care staff in facilities is effective to improve skin conditions of residents. In addition, it was suggested that a full grasp of the residents’ skin symptoms based upon an interview on itching alone was difficult, and thus there is a need to observe skin conditions directly.

Barriers and facilitators to delivering everyday personal hygiene care in residential settings: A systematic review

“…Of the sixteen papers included in the review, only three related to skin hygiene care (Calleson et al, 2006;D'Hondt et al, 2012;Tsunemi et al, 2020) the remaining thirteen related to oral hygiene care Ten considered barriers, facilitators, challenges and experiences generally with delivering hygiene care (D'Hondt et al, 2012;Goh et al, 2016;Hoang et al, 2018;Jablonski et al, 2009;McKelvey et al, 2003;Stančić et al, 2016;Weening-Verbree et al, 2021;Young et al, 2008). Six studies focused on interventions to improve hygiene care practice (Calleson et al, 2006;Fallon et al, 2006;Simons et al, 2000;Stein et al, 2012;Tsunemi et al, 2020;Weening-Verbree et al, 2013).…”

“…Of the sixteen papers included in the review, only three related to skin hygiene care (Calleson et al, 2006;D'Hondt et al, 2012;Tsunemi et al, 2020) the remaining thirteen related to oral hygiene care Ten considered barriers, facilitators, challenges and experiences generally with delivering hygiene care (D'Hondt et al, 2012;Goh et al, 2016;Hoang et al, 2018;Jablonski et al, 2009;McKelvey et al, 2003;Stančić et al, 2016;Weening-Verbree et al, 2021;Young et al, 2008). Six studies focused on interventions to improve hygiene care practice (Calleson et al, 2006;Fallon et al, 2006;Simons et al, 2000;Stein et al, 2012;Tsunemi et al, 2020;Weening-Verbree et al, 2013). Studies were conducted between 2000 and 2021 in; USA (Calleson et al, 2006;Jablonski et al, 2009;Stein et al, 2012) Canada (D'Hondt et al, 2012;Thorne et al, 2001), Singapore (Goh et al, 2016), Australia (Fallon et al, 2006;Hoang et al, 2018), Japan (Tsunemi et al, 2020), New (McKelvey et al, 2003) the UK (Simons et al, 2000;Young et al, 2008), multiple countries (including Europe, USA, Australia, Canada and Japan) (Hoben et al, 2017;Weening-Verbree et al, 2013), Serbia and the Netherlands (Weening-Verbree et al, 2021).…”

“…Japan (Tsunemi et al, 2020), New Zealand (McKelvey et al, 2003 the United Kingdom (Simons et al, 2000;Young et al, 2008), multiple countries (including Europe, USA, Australia, Canada and Japan) (Hoben et al, 2017;Weening-Verbree et al, 2013), Serbia and the Netherlands (Weening-Verbree et al, 2021). All included care staff with seven specifying the inclusion of registered nurses (Calleson et al, 2006;McKelvey et al, 2003;Simons et al, 2000;Stein et al, 2012;Thorne et al, 2001;Weening-Verbree et al, 2013;Young et al, 2008).…”

“…Number of participants ranged from 1 to 2000. Method of enquiry included seven questionnaire studies (Calleson et al, 2006;Goh et al, 2016;Jablonski et al, 2009;Stančić et al, 2016;Tsunemi et al, 2020;Weening-Verbree et al, 2021), one telephone survey (Young et al, 2008) Hoang et al, 2018;McKelvey et al, 2003;Thorne et al, 2001), two that included data from questionnaires and interviews/critical reflection (Fallon et al, 2006;Simons et al, 2000) and in one study the methods of intervention evaluation were unclear (Stein et al, 2012).…”

Effects of low‐dose Aloe sterol supplementation on skin moisture, collagen score and objective or subjective symptoms: 12‐week, double‐blind, randomized controlled trial

“…3 Protecting the skin barrier function and retaining skin moisture are therefore important for skin health. 4,5 To assess the skin moisture condition, several non-invasive instruments have been developed. For example, the water content at the skin surface can be evaluated by measuring capacitance or impedance.…”