Comfort Devices Used in Hospital

COMFORT DEVICES USED IN HOSPITAL (Definition, Purpose, Principles, Preparation, Factors influencing Comfort and Types)

Updated 2024

Comfort is a
sense of mental and physical well being. Physical comfort gets affected due to
a dirty and wet bed and lack of body alignment. High temperature and humidity,
poor ventilation too much noise, unpleasant odors and glaring lighting make the
patient uncomfortable. To promote comfort for the patients, certain mechanical
devices can be used.

Pillows can
be used for giving support for the various part of the body. Sometimes –
patient feels comfortable in a propped up position. In a hospital, a backrest
is provided for the patient to keep him in a sitting position. For relaxation
of abdominal muscles, when patients are in pain or after an abdominal
operation, knees can be kept flexed by means of a knee rest. Comfort devices
are mechanical devices which are used to provide comfort to the patient

DEFINITION

Comfort is a state of free from pain
and discomfort tension and anxiety
Comfort is defined as the contented
enjoyment in physical or mental well being freedom from pain or trouble
Discomfort is defined as want of
comfort or ease due to pain or annoyance
Comfort devices are the mechanical
devices to promote comfort to the patient
Comfort devices are invented articles
which would add to the comfort of the patient when used in the appropriate
manner, by relieving the discomfort and helping to maintain correct posture

PURPOSE

To promote comfort
To prevent discomfort
To alleviate discomfort
To ensure that the patient has rest
To assist the patient to obtain an
adequate sleep to meet his requirement
To maintain correct posture

PRINCIPLES OF COMFORT

Definite periods of sleep are a
essential component of the circadian rhythm in human being
Adequate amounts of sleep are needed
for optimal physical and psycho-social functioning of the individual
Individual needs for sleep vary with
age, growth patterns, health status and individual differences
Lack of sufficient sleep impairs a
person’s physical functioning, his mental alertness and his social relationship
Individual habits vary with regard to
bed time rituals
Sleep pattern may be disturbed by
changes in person’s normal daily living patterns by social and emotional
problems by physical problems and by minor irritation or discomforts
Sleeps at terms are almost invariable disturbed by illness

comfort devices used in hospital - nurseinfo

PREPARATION OF AIDS

The use of
aids for positioning helps to keep the patient in the desired position so as to
avoid pressure ulcers developing as well as facilitate the moving of the
patient.

Aids that help to keep the patient in
the desired position, or prevent pressure ulcers developing
Decubitus pad or mattress
Small or large cushions
Feet or elbow pads (or foam rings)
for reducing pressure on the skin
Trochander roll or other aids to
prevent external rotation of the hip
A roll (e.g. inflatable) placed under
knee
Block (box) of foam or inflatable

FACTORS INFLUENCING COMFORT

Pain
Restriction of movements due to
weakness
Wrinkled soiled and wet sheets
Delayed or inadequate attention to
meet the personal needs
Lack of exercise
Temperature extremes
Too bright lights and glares
Fear and anxiety due to illness
Insecurity feeling
Lack of sleep
Uncomfortable position
Indigestion and irregular bowel
movements

The ‘English
word ‘hospital’ originates from the Latin word “HOSPILE” and also some viewed
that it comes from the French word “hospitale.”

Types of
Comfort

Relief – the state of having a
specific comfort need met
Ease – the state of calm or
contentment
Transcendence – the state in which
one can rise above problems of pain

Context in
which Comfort Occurs

Physical – pertaining
to bodily sensations, homeostatic mechanisms, immune function, etc

Psychospiritual
– pertaining to internal awareness of self, including esteem, identity,
sexuality, meaning in one’s life, and one’s understood relationship to a higher
order or being

Environmental
– pertaining to the external background of human experience (temperature,
light, sound, odor, color, furniture, landscape, etc)

Sociocultural
– pertaining to interpersonal, family, and societal relationships (finances,
teaching, healthcare personnel, etc). Also to family traditions, rituals, and
religious practices

COMFORT DEVICES/MECHANICAL DEVICES

PILLOW – used for support to maintain
correct body alignment. Used under head, arms, legs and along spine or abdomen.
Correct positioning reduces strain on muscles and joints back rest. Support
patients back at an angle, so that he may maintain a sitting position. Can be
adjusted to desired angle. Extra pillows are needed. Arms of patient are well
supported. Used for patients suffering with cardiac and pulmonary distress

Purposes:

To relieve dyspnea
To promote drainage from abdominal
cavity
To provide a comfortable change of
position

Backrest – it is a mechanical device
which provides support for the patient in sitting position

Cardiac cradle – it is a frame used
to hold the bed linen from touching the patient. It is used to prevent pressure
from the weight of linen. It is used to allow air to circulate around lower
limbs. Cradle is often a semicircular frame of metal. Maybe made of wood or
bamboo. It may be made into a rectangular shape

Cardiac table – usually for patients
who are propped up in a sitting position for change of position. Bed table
placed in front with a pillow on it, patient can lean forward and take rest.
Table without pillow is used for writing and meals. It is used for patients
with cardiac conditions and asthma. Make it possible to use accessory muscles
of respiration. Position should be changed to relieve fatigue and prevent
embolism

Bed boards – boards are usually made
of wood and are placed under the mattress to provide support chairs bed. Beds
can be placed into the position of chair for patients who cannot move from the
bed but require a sitting position

Knee rest – knee rest may be
substituted by a pillow, gives relaxation and thus relieves pain on abdominal
muscles and tendons beneath the knees

Foot rest/board – foot board is the
device that is placed towards the foot of patient’s bed to serve as support for
his feet. Some fit onto the sides of bed frame and rest on the mattress at any
point along the bed. Usually made up of wood/plastic/heavy canvas

Trapeze bar – trapeze bar is
suspended from an overhead frame that extends from the foot to head of bed.
Patient can grasp the bar to raise the trunk off the bed surface, or to move up
in bed

Fracture board – fracture board is a
support that is placed under patient’s mattress to give added rigidity to the
mattress. Usually made of wood/canvas and is constructed to fit the standard
hospital bed

Balkan frame – Balkan frame is made
of wood or metal that extends lengthwise above the bed and is supported at either
ends by a pole. Trapeze may be attached to the frame just above patient’s head
as an aid to the pt in lifting himself up in bed fracture board

Bradford frame – it is a canvas
stretcher like device that is supported by blocks on the foundation of bed. It
used to immobilize patients who have injured spines. Canvas is divided into 3
parts so that small center portion can be removed to insert a bedpan

Trochanter board – trochanter rolls
prevents external rotation of legs when patient is in supine position. A cotton
bath blanket/sheet is folded lengthwise to width extending from greater
trochanter of femur to lower border of popliteal space blanket is placed under
the patient until thigh is in neutral position with patella facing upward
Bradford frame

Sand bags – it provides support and
shape to body contours. Immobilize extremities and maintain specific body
alignment. They are filled plastic bags that can be shaped to body contours. It
can be used in place of or in addition to trochanter rolls

Hand rolls – hand rolls maintain
thumb in slightly adducted and in opposition to fingers. Maintain fingers in
slightly flexed position. It can be made by folding a washcloth in half,
rolling in lengthwise and securing roll with rape. Roll is placed against palmar
surface of hand sand bags

Hand-wrist splints – individually
molded for the patient to maintain proper alignment of the thumb in slight
adduction and wrist in slight dorsiflexion. These splints should be used for
the patient whom the splint was made.

Side rails – side-rails are bars
positioned along the sides of the length of the bed. Ensure patient’s safety
and are useful for increasing mobility. Provide assistance in rolling from
side-to-side or sitting up in bed

Air and water mattress – these are
used for very thin, obese and those who are prone to bed sores. The principle
exerted on the bony prominences will be equally distributed in all directions,
thus pressure against bony prominences or areas subject to develop pressure
sores will be reduced

Rubber and cotton rings – it is used
to relieve pressure on certain parts of the body like elbows and heels

Air cushions – it is used to take off
the weight of the body and to relieve pressure on certain parts of the body.
Air cushion should not be used directly in contact with the skin. They should
have covers

Bed blocks – these are made of wood,
may be high or low. These are placed under the foot of the bed for various
reasons, e.g. surgical shock, traction and postural drainage. This may be
placed under the head of bed to promote drainage and improve cerebral
circulation. It is used to prevent shock, to arrest hemorrhage, to retain enema
and after giving spinal anesthesia

Thigh rolls – these are made by folding a sheet to a desired length of 23 feet and then rolled into a tight cylinder. These are used to support the hips and thighs, preventing them outward rotation and keeping the feet in good alignment, in case of paralysis, fracture of the femur or hip surgery. To use the roll, place the lose end (flap) under the patients hips and thighs with the role under the flap end and then tucking snugly along the hip and thigh

TYPES OF COMFORT DEVICES

COLD APPLICATION

HOT APPLICATION

COMFORT DEVICES USED IN HOSPITAL VIDEO