Pressure mapping systems: reliability of pressure map interpretation

Stinson, M. D.; Porter-Armstrong, A. P.; Eakin, P. A.

Abstract

Background: Pressure mapping systems offer a new technology to assist with pressure care assessment. Data output from such systems can be presented in three forms: numerical data, a three-dimensional grid and a colour-coded pressure map.

Objectives: To (1) investigate whether sole use of the pressure map was a reliable method of interpreting interface pressures when compared with use of the numerical data; (2) establish the inter and intra-rater reliability of using pressure maps to assess pressure and determine whether reliability depended upon system operator experience; and (3) examine whether reliability extended to the range of seating surfaces being tested.

Design: A reliability study assessing the ranking of pressure maps recorded by the Force Sensing Array pressure mapping system.

Setting: A university occupational therapy department and a community NHS trust.

Subjects: Fifteen occupational therapists with experience in pressure mapping and 50 occupational therapy students with no practical experience of pressure mapping.

Interventions: Two sets of pressure maps were pre-recorded with an able-bodied adult seated on a variety of surfaces, with maps on each individual surface recorded over a 20-minute period at 2-minute intervals. Subjects ranked both sets of maps in terms of ‘best to poorest’ distribution of pressure.

Main outcome measures: Rank orders of (1) pressure maps; (2) average interface pressures (mmHg); (3) maximum interface pressures (mmHg). Results: The use of pressure maps to interpret interface pressures was a reliable method. Significant agreement existed within (p < 0.001) and between groups of operators and reliability extended over the range of seating surfaces tested.

Conclusions: The practice of using pressure maps to interpret interface pressures in seating as opposed to using the associated numerical data can be supported. This was shown to be a reliable method of assessment by both experienced and less experienced operators across a range of seating surfaces.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: 2003-08
• Deposit Date: Nov 11, 2021
• Journal: Clinical Rehabilitation
• Print ISSN: 0269-2155
• Electronic ISSN: 1477-0873
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 504-511
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1191/0269215503cr643oa
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2821003