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. 2024 Jun 28;58(11):13-21.
doi: 10.47895/amp.v58i11.8593. eCollection 2024.

A Proof of Concept Study on the Comfort and Usability of a Supportive Pillow for Pregnant Patients with COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Maria Antonia E Habana  1 , Maria Julieta V Germar  1 , Angela S Aguilar  1 , Louis Angelo M Danao  2 , Mary Ruth A Padua  3 , Albert B Albay Jr  4
Affiliations

A Proof of Concept Study on the Comfort and Usability of a Supportive Pillow for Pregnant Patients with COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Maria Antonia E Habana et al. Acta Med Philipp. .

Abstract

Background: The prone position has been seen to benefit patients experiencing acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, performing this position in pregnant patients has been difficult and raises safety concerns.

Objective: The current study aimed to test the use of a supportive pillow (Prone Pillow for Pregnant Patients or 4P) to address concerns regarding pregnant patients in prone position.

Methods: The study prospectively evaluated the use of the prone pillow for patient comfort and usability among healthcare workers with qualitative and quantitative measures.

Results: A total of three patients were recruited alongside 16 healthcare workers assisting pregnant patients to the prone position. Overall, awake pregnant patients found the pillow to be comfortable while healthcare workers perceived the pillow to be useful in improving quality of care among awake and intubated pregnant patients.

Conclusion: The 4P is a potentially useful and beneficial product in placing pregnant patients in the prone position during episodes of acute respiratory distress. However, due to the limited sample size, more clinical trials are needed to evaluate the impact of this innovation in improving patient and healthcare worker safety.

Keywords: ARDS; COVID-19; prone pillow; prone positioning.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
4P 2.0 Prototype. (A) View from the top: pink dumbbell shape (top) for the breast and circular shape (bottom) for the abdomen which are removable; (B) Side View: shows the top foam using Permasoft gray and firmer bottom foam using Uratex blue and a support foam, Permasoft Pink; wires of the transducers to monitor uterine contractions and fetal heart tones are seen threaded thru the slits.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Awake volunteer using the 4P 2.0 Prototype.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Noelle* Maternal Care Patient simulator using the 4P 2.0 Prototype.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Recruitment protocol for pregnant patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection (A) and healthcare workers (B).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Awake pregnant patient using the 4P 2.0 Prototype. Actual patient using the prone pillow and a face pillow to support her body and head. Wires of the transducers for monitoring are seen.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Intubated pregnant patient using the 4P 2.0 Prototype. Actual patient using the prone pillow and a face pillow to support her body and head. Wires of the transducers for monitoring are seen. This patient was intubated.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Checklist for nursing care responses.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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