Health professionals' perspectives on delivering patient-focused wound management: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the perspectives of health professionals on the barriers and solutions to delivery of patient-focused wound management and outcomes. METHODS: A qualitative, descriptive study design was used. Participants were health-care managers, clinical leaders, nurses and allied health members who are part of wound care services. Open-ended surveys were distributed to participants in a series of learning workshops, and data analysed to identify leading themes. RESULTS: A total of 261 participants took part and 194 surveys were returned (response rate: 74%). From the analysis five themes emerged: patient/family wound-related education; health professional wound-related education; implementation of evidence-based wound care and dissemination of evidence-based wound information across professions and contexts; teamwork and respectful communication within teams; and a higher value and priority placed on wound care through collaborative teams by managers, leaders and policymakers. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that ongoing, system-wide education is needed to improve prevention, assessment, treatment and management of four wound types: venous leg ulcer (VLU), diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), pressure ulcer (PU) and surgical wounds. Health professionals are committed to delivering best practice in wound care. Participants identified that effective patient-focused, evidence-based wound care involves having a health-care system with a clear mandate to ensure wound care is a priority. A high value placed on wound care by managers and clinical leadership could transform the present systems. Additionally, effective and widespread dissemination of evidenced-informed practice information is crucial to positive patient outcomes. Education and team commitment for consistent and respectful communication would improve care delivery.

Pressure ulcer awareness and prevention program: a quality improvement program through the Canadian Association of Wound Care.

The Canadian Association of Wound Care funded a study to determine the extent of pressure ulcers in Canada and discovered that the mean prevalence rate was 26%. Recognizing this as a significant health-related problem, the Canadian Association of Wound Care created a continuous quality improvement program known as the Pressure Ulcer Awareness and Prevention program to support a culture shift in healthcare settings, that is, shifting the emphasis on management from treatment of existing ulcers to their prevention. This program has been pilot tested, revised, and is being implemented in many Canadian healthcare facilities. The program is described and results are presented that demonstrate a reduction rate up to 57% (prevalence) and 71% (incidence).