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Pressure mapping systems: reliability of pressure map interpretation

A P Porter-Armstrong

P A Eakin

Rehabilitation Sciences Research Group, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland

Background: Pressure mapping systems offer a new technology to assist with pressure care assessment. Data output from such systems can be presented in three forms: numerical data, a three-dimensional grid and a colour-coded pressure map.

Objectives: To (1) investigate whether sole use of the pressure map was a reliable method of interpreting interface pressures when compared with use of the numerical data; (2) establish the inter and intra-rater reliability of using pressure maps to assess pressure and determine whether reliability depended upon system operator experience; and (3) examine whether reliability extended to the range of seating surfaces being tested.

Design: A reliability study assessing the ranking of pressure maps recorded by the Force Sensing Array pressure mapping system.

Setting: A university occupational therapy department and a community NHS trust.

Subjects: Fifteen occupational therapists with experience in pressure mapping and 50 occupational therapy students with no practical experience of pressure mapping.

Interventions: Two sets of pressure maps were pre-recorded with an able-bodied adult seated on a variety of surfaces, with maps on each individual surface recorded over a 20-minute period at 2-minute intervals. Subjects ranked both sets of maps in terms of ‘best to poorest’ distribution of pressure.

Main outcome measures: Rank orders of (1) pressure maps; (2) average interface pressures (mmHg); (3) maximum interface pressures (mmHg). Results: The use of pressure maps to interpret interface pressures was a reliable method. Significant agreement existed within (p < 0.001) and between groups of operators and reliability extended over the range of seating surfaces tested.

Conclusions: The practice of using pressure maps to interpret interface pressures in seating as opposed to using the associated numerical data can be supported. This was shown to be a reliable method of assessment by both experienced and less experienced operators across a range of seating surfaces.

Clinical Rehabilitation, Vol. 17, No. 5, 504-511 (2003)
DOI: 10.1191/0269215503cr643oa


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