Development and clinical validation of a risk prediction model for incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) in a group of hospitalised adult patients

People living with incontinence are at risk of developing irritant contact dermatitis, also known as incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD). IAD is a major health problem worldwide and a recognized risk factor for the development of devastating wounds, such as pressure ulcers. IAD affects over 50% of patients with incontinence. Risk assessment of IAD aims to evaluate risk based on factors that increase (risk factor) or decrease (protective factor) a person's susceptibility to developing IAD. Risk assessment is important for disease prediction, prioritizing resource use, and informing clinical interventions. An essential component of IAD risk assessment is an IAD risk prediction model. The goals of this project are:

• To develop the first predictive IAD model in a combined effort that includes a systematic review and a global Delphi consensus study,
• to clinically test the new model in a cohort study in 6 Swedish hospitals, and
• evaluate the applicability of the new predictive model in clinical practice in a qualitative study.

The risk prediction model will be innovative and inventive, translating knowledge about IAD risk factors and expert opinion into a usable tool for clinical practice. It will help accurately identify patients in need of preventive treatment. It will support clinical decision making and have a positive impact on the quality of patient care. The tool will also help decision makers in resource allocation and researchers in clinical trial design. This project is funded by the Swedish Research Council – Vetenskapsrådet.