All are risk factors of decubitus ulcer except-

RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2023

Medical & Surgical Nursing

Medium

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2023

Explanation

Mobility is the ability to change one's position independently, which is essential for relieving pressure on bony prominences.
Because it allows for pressure relief, mobility is a protective factor against the development of decubitus ulcers.
The actual risk factor is the opposite: immobility, where a person cannot change position, leading to prolonged pressure and tissue ischemia.

Option A: Malnutrition is a major risk factor. Inadequate intake of protein, calories, and vitamins impairs tissue synthesis and the body's ability to repair itself, making the skin fragile and prone to breakdown.
Option C: Decreased sensory perception is a key risk factor. Patients who cannot feel pain or pressure are unable to sense the need to shift their weight, leading to prolonged tissue compression and injury.
Option D: Incontinence is a significant risk factor. Prolonged exposure of the skin to moisture from urine or stool leads to maceration (softening), which weakens the skin and makes it more susceptible to breakdown from pressure and friction.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Risk factors for decubitus ulcers (pressure ulcers) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses use risk assessment tools like the Braden Scale on admission and regularly thereafter to identify at-risk patients and implement targeted prevention strategies (e.g., turning schedules, nutritional support, moisture management).
Pressure ulcer prevention is a key nursing quality indicator, as these injuries are largely preventable and cause significant patient suffering and increased healthcare costs.
What if? If a patient has full mobility but is heavily sedated, their risk for pressure ulcers increases significantly. Although physically able to move, their altered level of consciousness prevents them from repositioning themselves, making them functionally immobile and requiring proactive nursing interventions.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept of the question: 'risk factors of decubitus ulcer'.
Note the negative keyword 'except'. This means you are looking for the option that is NOT a risk factor.
Evaluate each option against the core concept. Ask yourself, 'Does this increase the risk of pressure ulcers?'
Malnutrition? Yes. Decreased sensory perception? Yes. Incontinence? Yes.
Evaluate the final option: Mobility? No, the ability to move helps prevent ulcers. Its opposite, immobility, is the risk factor.
Conclude that 'Mobility' is the correct answer because it is the exception.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Risk factors for decubitus ulcers (pressure ulcers).
Stem keywords: risk factors, decubitus ulcer, pressure ulcer
Lead-in keywords: except
Negative lead-in flag: This question uses negative framing ('EXCEPT'), asking you to identify the option that is NOT a risk factor.

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