Self-managed digital technologies for pressure injury prevention in individuals with spinal cord injury: a systematic scoping review

Abstract

Systematic scoping review. Pressure injuries (PI) are a serious but mostly preventable complication associated with living with spinal cord injuries (SCI). This review aims to identify and summarize evidence concerning self-managed digital technologies for preventing PI in the SCI population. A systematic search was performed across seven databases—Embase, Medline, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Scopus, CENTRAL, and CINAHL. To be eligible, studies had to be peer-reviewed and report original findings on self-managed digital technologies for PI prevention in adults (≥18 years) with SCI. Supplementary searches were conducted using Google Scholar, PEDro, and citation tracking to locate relevant studies not identified by the systematic search. Data from the included studies were extracted and synthesized. The systematic search identified 9797 unique studies. After screening and excluding 8939 records at the title-and-abstract level, 858 full-text records were assessed, and 12 met the inclusion criteria. The included studies fell into categories: (i) technology-driven feedback systems that provide real-time pressure distribution data and (ii) digital self-management and educational systems aimed at improving adherence to PI-preventive measures. Feedback systems were associated with improved pressure-relieving behaviours, though adherence to reminder-based interventions remained a challenge. Digital self-management tools were shown to enhance knowledge and confidence related to PI prevention. Self-managed digital technologies increased awareness, confidence, and engagement in pressure relief behaviours among individuals with SCI. However, their direct impact on PI prevention remains inconclusive. Difficulties relating to adherence indicate that such technologies should complement, rather than replace, traditional prevention strategies.