The healing effects of an egg white formulation on pressure ulcers: A triple-blind clinical trial

Abstract

Background: Pressure ulcers represent a significant health challenge for individuals with mobility impairments. The development of effective and cost-efficient treatments that can expedite the healing process is essential. Egg white is rich in the nutrients necessary for wound healing.Objectives: This study aimed to assess the healing effects of an egg white formulation on pressure ulcers.Methods: This triple-blind clinical trial was carried out over a span of nine months, from March 2022 to November 2023, at Golestan and Imam Khomeini hospitals in Ahvaz, Iran. A total of 78 patients with Grade II and III pressure ulcers were enrolled based on specific inclusion criteria. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group, which received the egg white formulation, or the control group, which received standard treatment. The healing of ulcers was monitored using the Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) tool at baseline and at the end of each week from the first to the fourth week. The healing progress between the two groups was analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance, with all statistical tests performed using SPSS-25.Results: The findings indicated no significant differences between the intervention and control groups regarding the mean scores for ulcer area (P=0.46), exudate amount (P=0.95), and overall ulcer healing (P=0.11). However, there was a statistically significant difference in the mean scores for ulcer tissue type (P<0.001).Conclusion: While the overall difference in ulcer healing rates was not statistically significant, the intervention group demonstrated a greater mean improvement. Therefore, we recommend considering egg white formulation as a complementary treatment for pressure ulcers alongside standard therapies. Further research with larger sample sizes over extended periods is warranted to validate these findings.