ABSTRACT

Objective: This study examines the flow of research on pressure ulcer preventive cushions used for people with a disability using a wheelchair, as well as the trends in the types, effects, and measurement methods regarding such cushions. Methods: Electronic databases such as RISS, KISS, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar from 2010 to 2015 were used to research various theses. “Pressure Ulcer AND Wheelchair AND Cushion” were used as the main search terminology. The theses researched were classified into three levels, and the final 13 theses were used for analysis purposes Results: The qualitative level of the dissertations most commonly involved one-group experimental studies, which numbered eight in total, and the research participants changed from non-disabled subjects to disabled subjects with spinal cord injuries. The studies on air cushions were most commonly focused on the type of pressure ulcer prevention cushion used, although newer studies on customized cushions are being actively conducted. The method for measuring the effect of pressure ulcer prevention cushions most commonly involved measuring the pressure of the seat contact area, although recent methods measuring the usability of the user and their subjective satisfaction are on the increase. Conclusion: The present study inquired into the research flow of pressure ulcer prevention cushions, and revealed the types of cushions being researched and the methods for verifying their effects. In the future, based on these research results, studies should be actively carried out for the development and research of pressure ulcer prevention cushions, and for establishing grounds for clinical services.