Optimal nocturnal care for pressure injury prevention in the care environment: A scoping review

Nursing care activities conducted at night tend to disturb their sleep, but to our knowledge, no nocturnal care protocols for pressure injury prevention have been established. This scoping review aimed to map the nocturnal care for pressure injury prevention and propose nocturnal care recommendations that have a reduced impact on the patient's care environment. Literature databases were searched and two independent researchers screened the articles according to the inclusion criteria and extracted the data. The inclusion criteria were original articles/case studies, studies involving human subjects, and studies on nocturnal care for the prevention of pressure injuries. Eight met the inclusion criteria, three studies focused on bedding and five on care activities. Parasympathetic activity was more likely to be maintained or enhanced when an automatic repositioning function was used. Additionally, the time to sleep resumption was significantly shorter when repositioning was performed during deep sleep than during shallow sleep. Significantly fewer awakenings in response to light or sound occurred when incontinence care was provided to awake patients than when it was performed regularly. Moreover, some studies have highlighted the usefulness of the small change method and the 30° side-lying position for repositioning. Using a mattress with an automated turning function, providing care during wakefulness or deep sleep, and using repositioning methods with small positional changes may be effective in reducing the impact on patient's care environment. Further research is needed to determine nocturnal care for pressure injury prevention with less impact on the patient's care environment. •This review summarizes research on nocturnal care for pressure injury prevention.•An automated turning function is likely not to disturb the patient's sleep.•Providing care during wakefulness or deep sleep may reduce the impact of care activities at night.•Repositioning methods with small positional changes may help reduce the number of awakenings.•Few studies have evaluated both the effectiveness of care and its impact on patients.