Printing:

University of Minnesota Duluth

INTRODUCTION

Can a mobile app be designed and developed to help

patients perform weight shifting in order to prevent pressure

ulcers?

METHODOLOGY

OBJECTIVE

RESULTS

ALGORITHM

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

REFERENCES

• Black JM, Edsberg LE, Baharestani MM, et al. Pressure ulcers:

avoidable or unavoidable? Results of the National Pressure Ulcer

Advisory Panel Consensus Conference.Black JM, Edsberg LE,

Baharestani MM, et al. Pressure ulcers: avoidable or unavoidable?

Results of the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel Consensus

Conference. Ostomy Wound Manag. 2011;57:24-37. PMID:

21350270. Available at: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21350270.

• Hafner A, Sprecher E. Ulcers. In: Bolognia JL, Jorizzo JL, Schaffer

JV, eds.HafnerA, Sprecher E. Ulcers. In: Bolognia JL, Jorizzo JL,

Schaffer JV, eds. Dermatology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier

Saunders; 2012:chap 105.

• Perry D, Borchert K, Burke S, et al., Institute for Clinical Systems

Improvement. Pressure ulcer prevention and treatment Protocol.

Updated January 2012. Available at:

www.icsi.org/_asset/6t7kxy/PressureUlcer.pdf. Perry D, Borchert K,

Burke S, et al., Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement.

Pressure ulcer prevention and treatment Protocol. Updated

January 2012. Available at:

www.icsi.org/_asset/6t7kxy/PressureUlcer.pdf

• Design a mobile app to prevent decubitus ulcers in

wheelchair-bound patients who have had spinal cord

injuries

• To help reduce re-admission due to ulcers, ultimately

reducing health care cost.

• Collect data based on patient’s weight shifting records and

help promote and support evidence-based practice.

• UROP Faculty Advisor:• Dr. Arshia Khan, Associate Professor, University of Minnesota Duluth.

• Sponsored by:• University of Minnesota, Duluth, MN.

• Swenson College of Science and Engineering.

• The app was designed to have 2 parts:

• Exercises

• Education

• The first part is comprised of the following components:

• Sideways lean exercise

• Wheelchair push up exercise

• Forward lean exercise

• The app will connect to a pressure mat through

Bluetooth and monitor user’s exercise progress using

the data received from the mat.

• Sustained position change

• The app will monitor user’s motion through the

accelerometer when he/she is taking the sustained

position test.

• The second part will include:

• Documents instructing patients to prevent pressure

ulcers.

• Educating the patient about the preventive measures.

• Skin inspection to proactively monitor the onset of

pressure ulcers.

• The app will also provide patients and therapist with other

functions such as

• Communication with therapist.

• Set up the duration for each exercise.

• Notify the patients to get off the wheelchair to prevent

pressure ulcers.

• Notify the users that it is time to do the exercises.

Assistive Technology: Mobile app designed to prevent pressure ulcers

Nam PhungDr. Arshia Khan