End-user perceptions of sub-epidermal moisture scanning (SEMS) acceptability: A descriptive qualitative study

Aims: To assess patients' and nurses' perceptions and experiences of subepidermal moisture scanning acceptability.Design: Descriptive, qualitative, sub-study, embedded within a pilot randomized control trial.Methods: Ten patients who were in the intervention arm of the pilot trial and 10 registered nurses providing care for these patients on medical-surgical units participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Data were collected from October 2021 to January 2022. Interviews were analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis, and perspectives (patient and nurse), were triangulated.Results: Four categories were found. The first category 'Subepidermal moisture scanning is acceptable as part of care' showed that patients and nurses were willing to use subepidermal moisture scanning and viewed subepidermal moisture scanning as non-burdensome. The category 'Subepidermal moisture scanning may improve pressure injury outcomes' demonstrated that although subepidermal moisture scanning was believed to prevent pressure injuries, more research evidence about its benefits was required. 'Subepidermal moisture scanning augments existing pressure injury prevention practices', the third category, highlighted that subepidermal moisture scanning aligns with current pressure injury prevention practices while making these practices more patient-centred. In the final category, 'Important considerations when making subepidermal moisture scanning routine practice', practical issues were raised relating to training, guidelines, infection control, device availability and patient modesty.Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that using subepidermal moisture scanning is acceptable for patients and nurses. Building the evidence base for subepidermal moisture scanning and then addressing practical issues prior to implementation, are important next steps. Our research suggests that subepidermal moisture scanning enhances individualized and patient-centred care, persuasive reasons to continue investigating subepidermal moisture scanning.Impact:For an intervention to be successfully implemented it must be both effective and acceptable, however, there is limited evidence of patients' and nurses' views of SEMS acceptability.SEM scanners are acceptable to use in practice for patients and nurses. There are many procedural aspects that need to be considered when using SEMS such as frequency of measurements.This research may have benefit for patients, as SEMS may promote a more individualized and patient-centred approach to pressure injury prevention. Further, these findings can assist researchers, providing justification to proceed with effectiveness research.Patient or public contribution:A consumer advisor was involved in study design, interpretation of data and preparation of manuscript.