RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Prevention of Pressure Injury (PI) in Hospitalised Infants, Children, and Young People (CYP) (Aged 0-19 Years)

This research is looking into how well we identify the risk of pressure sores, also known as bedsores, in children and young people (aged 0-19) who are in hospital, especially those with darker skin tones. Pressure sores can be uncomfortable and upsetting, and current tools for checking risk might not be as good for all skin colours. We're working with nurses, doctors, children, and parents to improve an existing assessment tool. The goal is to make sure it's accurate for everyone, regardless of their skin tone. This will help healthcare staff prevent pressure sores more effectively, making hospital stays safer and more comfortable for all young patients.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Enrolment target

542

Start

30 Jul 2025

Estimated completion

16 May 2026

Pressure Injuries Pressure Ulcers, Bedsores, Decubitus Ulcer

What is this study about?

When children and young people stay in hospital, sometimes they can develop something called a pressure injury, also known as a pressure sore or bedsore. These are painful spots on the skin that form when there's too much pressure on one area for a long time, for example, from lying in bed or wearing a cast. These sores often appear on bony parts of the body like heels, elbows, hips, or the tailbone. They can cause discomfort for the child and worry for their family. They also mean more care and treatment are needed from hospital staff.

Currently, hospitals use tools to check children for their risk of developing pressure sores. However, these tools were mostly designed without fully considering differences in skin tones. This means they might not be as good at identifying pressure sore risk or seriousness in children with darker skin. Our goal is to make sure these important tools work well for every child, no matter their skin colour.

To do this, we're working closely with healthcare professionals, children, and their parents. We will look at existing information and then update an assessment tool if needed. After that, we'll test this improved tool in ten children's hospitals across the UK. This will help us see if it can accurately tell whether a child with a darker skin tone in hospital is at high or low risk of getting a pressure sore.

Key takeaways

This study aims to make hospital stays safer for children aged 0-19.
It focuses on preventing pressure sores, also known as bedsores.
The research will improve tools for identifying pressure sore risk in children with darker skin tones.
Parents, children, and healthcare staff are helping to design and test the new tool.
Participation will not involve new treatments or medicines.

Who may be eligible?

For the first part of the study, we are looking for healthcare professionals who are experts in skin care or who look after children in hospital. We also need parents or guardians of children under 19 who have either had a pressure sore in hospital or have a darker skin tone. Finally, we are looking for young people aged 10-19 with a darker skin tone who have had a pressure sore while in hospital to share their experiences.

For the second part of the study, we're inviting hospitalised babies, children, and young people aged 0-19 with darker skin tones who are staying in hospital for at least 24 hours. They and their parents will need to agree to take part.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you a healthcare professional working with hospitalised children or a skin expert?
Are you a parent or guardian of a child under 19 with a darker skin tone who has been in hospital?
Are you a child or young person aged 10-19 with a darker skin tone who has had a pressure sore in hospital?
Is your child (0-19 years old) with a darker skin tone currently in hospital for at least 24 hours?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you take part in the first phase of the study, depending on who you are, you might be asked to join an individual interview or a group discussion, either online, over the phone, or in person. These discussions will be about what causes pressure sores and how we can better identify risk in children with darker skin tones. These discussions will be recorded and written down. Some participants from these initial talks might also be asked to join an online workshop to help decide which risk factors are most important.

If your child takes part in the second phase, they (with your agreement if they are young) will undergo an assessment of their risk of pressure injury by a member of the research team using the updated tool during their hospital stay. This will not involve any new treatments or medicines. The research team will simply gather information and observe to see how well the new tool works. The total duration of involvement depends on which phase you participate in, but for children in phase two, it will mostly be during their hospital stay.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could help improve how we prevent pressure sores for all children in hospitals, especially those with darker skin tones, by making risk assessment tools more accurate. This could lead to better comfort and care for future patients. There are very few risks expected from taking part, as it mainly involves sharing information or having standard assessments. You or your child will not receive any new treatments or medicines as part of this study. If you decide to participate, you are free to change your mind and withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your or your child's care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Nottingham University Hospital
Verified postcode
Nottingham, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What exactly is a pressure sore?

A pressure sore is a sore spot on the skin that forms when there's too much pressure on an area for a long time, often from lying in bed or sitting in a wheelchair. They are also called bedsores or pressure injuries.

Why is this study focusing on children with darker skin tones?

Existing tools for checking pressure sore risk might not be as good at identifying problems in children with darker skin. This study aims to make these tools fairer and more accurate for everyone.

Will my child receive any new treatments if they join the study?

No, your child will not receive any new treatments or medicines as part of this study. It's about improving how we assess risk, not about giving new therapies.

What happens to the information we provide?

All information collected will be kept private and used only for this research. It will help us develop and test a better pressure sore risk assessment tool.

Can we stop participating at any time?

Yes, you or your child can stop taking part in the study at any point, without having to give a reason, and it won't affect your or your child's medical care.

How to find out more

Kathleen Holding, PhD

Kathleen.Holding@nhs.net +44 115 92499240 ext. 83746 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.