The Braden scale for pressure ulcer risk: Evaluating the predictive validity in Black and Latino/Hispanic elders

The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive validity of the Braden scale in predicting pressure sore risk and to determine the physiological and nonphysiological variables associated with the prediction of pressure ulcers in Black and Latino/Hispanic elders. A prospective clinical design was used to conduct the study. Among 74 patients aged 60 years or older, 24 patients (32%) developed either a stage 1 or stage 2 pressure ulcer. Black elders had a higher incidence rate (21%) than Latino/Hispanic elders (11%). A 2-tailed Fisher's exact test revealed that the Braden scale with a cutoff score of 18 was highly associated with predicting Black elders aged 75 years and older who were at risk of developing pressure ulcers (p less than or equal to .011). Sensitivity was 81% and specificity was 100%. The female gender was also a highly significant factor in the development of pressure ulcers (chi(2) (1, N = 49) = 6.4, p less than or equal to .011). Overall, the Braden scale was found to be a valid tool in predicting pressure ulcer risk in Black elders aged 75 years or older when a cutoff score of 18 is used. Copyright (C) 1999 by W.B. Saunders Company.