Abstract
Pressure ulcers, also known as pressure sores, are a common and preventable complication among mobile patients, resulting from sustained pressure on specific body areas. Manual repositioning is the primary strategy for prevention, but it is physically stressful, time-intensive, and not uniformly performed by care providers. Ripple mattresses provide passive pressure redistribution; however, manual tuning is still necessary and requires an automated approach. This concept paper discusses the design of Comforturn, a smart mattress system capable of automating patient turning with a programmable side tilt and wave-like motion. The goal is to lessen caregivers' work burden and increase patient safety and comfort through combined engineering and clinical approaches. This study is based on the 4D Development Model: Define, Design, Develop, and Deliver. During the Define phase, stakeholder analysis mapped the primary requirements of the nurses and patients. During the design phase, functional specifications and system architecture were developed. A working prototype was established in the Develop stage using Arduino control, and the Comforturn was tested and compared with a ripple mattress in the final Deliver stage. Preliminary findings indicate that Comforturn may significantly reduce the physical burden on caregivers, optimize the ergonomic benefits of turning, and deliver consistent, unbiased turning cycles. Patients could be repositioned more smoothly and comfortably, and caregivers benefited from less manual handling. In conclusion, Comforturn demonstrates the potential of interdisciplinary innovation in preventing pressure ulcers and improving patient care. Integrating technology, engineering, and clinical practice, this system presents a viable solution applicable in hospitals, nursing homes, and home care environments to enhance patient safety and caregiver wellbeing.
Notes
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International License, which permits you to share (copy and redistribute) and adapt (remix, transform) the material for non-commercial purposes only. The license is attached to this item record.
Original Citation:
Aung, K. T., Suhaimi, N. A. F., Sukriman, N. N. A. N., Zakaria, N. A., Zaidi, N. A., Aung, K. T., & Razak, R. A. (2025). Development of Comforturn: A Smart Mattress System for Automated Patient Repositioning using the 4D Development Model (A Concept Paper). Journal of Health and Quality of Life, 8(1), 20–26. 10.37934/jhqol.8.1.2026.
No changes have been made to this article.
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Article
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Pressure Ulcer Prevention, Patient Repositioning, Smart Mattress System, Nursing Ergonomics, Healthcare Innovation
Recommended Citation
Aung, Khin Thandar; Suhaimi, Nur Alya Farhana; Sukriman, Nik Nur Aisyah Nik; Zakaria, Nurul Ain; Zaidi, Nur Adila; Aung, Khin Thuzar; and Razak, Rafiza Abdul, "Development of Comforturn: A Smart Mattress System for Automated Patient Repositioning using the 4D Development Model (A Concept Paper)" (2025). Individual Articles. 34.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/individual_articles/34
Publisher
Karya Ilham Publishing
Version
Publisher's Version
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
External Review: Previously Published Material
Acquisition
Indexed from External Source (Per Creative Commons License)
Date of Issue
2025-10-29
Full Text of Presentation
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