No / Oxygen has a crucial role in wound healing; 97% of chronic, non-healing wounds have been shown to have low oxygen levels (Hauser, 1987). Topical oxygen therapy has been shown to be effective in treating non-healing wounds, but is still underutilised. A working group of key opinion leaders met in February 2015 to determine the potential role of topical haemoglobin in non-healing wounds and to develop a clear decision-making pathway for clinical practice, as well as sharing practical tips for use. The group’s consensus recommendations on appropriate use are presented here.

No

Wound healing remains a largely overlooked area despite the perceived large numbers of people with wounds and the high costs of treatment. The lack of visibility for wounds and wound healing may in part stem from the fragmented nature of the available data on wound occurrence often limited to descriptions of specific wound types within single care settings. A survey was undertaken across all care providers serving the population of Bradford, UK to identify the number of people with wounds, the characteristics of their wounds and the allocated interventions used to prevent and heal wounds. In March 2007, 1735 completed questionnaires were returned each marking the most severe wound experienced by a patient. The overall prevalence of wounds was 3.55 people with wounds per 1000 population (prevalence 0.355% 95% CI 0.33–0.37%). Almost one third (n = 556) of the people with wounds were located in acute care settings with the remainder spread across several community locations including residential and nursing homes. The most prevalent forms of wound were acute wounds (n = 826) followed by leg ulcers (n = 482) and pressure ulcers (n = 363). A previous survey with broadly similar methodology had shown a lower prevalence of wounds (0.279% 95% CI 0.26–0.29%) with this difference perhaps explained by different data collection methodologies within the nursing home sector that resulted in a 100% return compared with 50% in the earlier survey.

Randomised, controlled trials are widely regarded as the gold standard by which the clinical effectiveness of healthcare products should be evaluated. Debate continues as to the value of this method of product assessment in a complex area such as wound care. Any method that is employed to define a product’s clinical value is, however, useless unless its ongoing effectiveness in a clinical area or with an individual patient is effectively monitored.

No description available.

Published Article / In 2005 the third-year facilitators of the generic degree in nursing embarked on an action research initiative within a service learning pedagogy to revitalise the nursing process related to wound care.As a result of the action research a unique wound care project unfolded. This project embraced an integrated assessment approach in order to assess the competence related to wound care and to develop health care practitioners with generic- and field-specific competencies. Action research as mode of delivery for this project created an opportunity for producing Mode 2 knowledge where all participants contributed to the production of knowledge relevant to the wound care context.

Sårvård är central omvårdnadsuppgift i sjuksköterskans profession som kräverspecifika kunskaper, förberedelser och tidsplanering vilket innebär behov av en radolika resurser men även kostnader för hälso- och sjukvården. Sjuksköterskanskunskap gällande prevention och sårvårdsbehandling utgör grunden förevidensbaserad sårvård med patientens personliga behov i fokus. Syftet var att belysasjuksköterskors erfarenheter av sårvård, och genomfördes som en systematisklitteraturstudie där resultatet utgjordes av åtta kvalitativa och två kvantitativavetenskapliga artiklar. I resultatet framkom fyra teman som belyser sjuksköterskorserfarenheter av sårvård; utmaningar; helhetssyn i sårvård; behov av kunskap ochbetydelsen av stöd. Konklusionen påvisar vikten av att se på patienten som har behovav sårvård ur ett helhetsperspektiv. Det handlar inte enbart om att behandla självasåret utan bemötandet utifrån helhetssyn, att se personen i den aktuellaomvårdnadssituationen. Studien belyser även vikten av teamarbete och ett gottsamarbete mellan olika professioner i sjukvården, vilket leder till att kontinuitetuppnås. Slutligen behövs det kontinuerlig sårvårdsutbildning till sjuksköterskor inomklinisk verksamhet men även fortsatt forskning som lyfter tillämplig avevidensbaserad prevention av sår samt effektstudier av sårbehandling. / Wound care is a central task of the nursing profession that requires specificknowledge, preparation and planning which means the needs of a variety of resources,but also the costs of health care. The nurse's knowledge regarding wound treatment,care, and prevention is the basis for evidence-based wound care with the patient'spersonal needs in mind. The aim was to highlight nurses' experiences of wound care,and carried out a systematic literature where the result had eight qualitative and twoquantitative scientific articles. The results revealed four themes that highlight nurses'experiences of wound care; challenges; holistic approach to wound care; need forknowledge and the importance of support. The conclusion demonstrates theimportance of ensuring the patient is in need of wound care from a holisticperspective. It is not just about treating the wound without seeing the human being inits entirety, and to respond to the patient in the current nursing situation. The studyalso highlights the importance of team work and good cooperation between differentprofessionals in health care, which leads to continuity, is achieved. Finally, we needcontinuous wound care training for nurses in clinical practice but also continuedresearch that highlights relevant evidence-based prevention of ulcers and efficacystudies of wound healing.

Abstract Chronic wounds afflict millions worldwide, incurring significant health care costs and chronic suffering. Clinicians are often unsure about treatment, resulting in poor outcomes. Objective To determine the scope of knowledge possessed by fifth year medical students, general practitioners (GP’s) and surgical registrars, concerning chronic wound management. Design Cross sectional study Methods Deans of eight South African medical schools received letters requesting information regarding time devoted to wound-care training. Knowledge-based questionnaires were distributed to final-year students at two universities, surgical registrars at three universities and general practitioners attending refresher courses. Result. Four medical schools replied, of whom only two offered formal teaching. 162 medical students, 45 GP’s and 47 surgical registrars completed questionnaires. The overall median (25th–75th percentiles) knowledge scores for registrars, GP’s and students were 65%;(55%–70%), 55%;(45%–65%) and 45%;(35%–50%) respectively. Whereas the scores of registrars and GP’s did not differ, the student scores were significantly less. Only 32% of registrars and 18% of GP’s attained scores of 70% or more. 96% considered training to be inadequate. Interest in wound-care was only mild to moderate, with more GP’s than registrars requesting literature. Conclusions Very little, if any training on chronic wounds is offered in South Africa. The levels of knowledge cannot be considered adequate for successful treatment, nor for teaching to undergraduates. This preliminary study cannot reflect the attitudes and knowledge throughout the country; however it is clear that there is a need for improved education about these conditions that have huge clinical and economic consequences.

482 people with leg ulcers were identified among those receiving health care in Bradford, UK. Of these wounds 195 (40.4%) were venous leg ulcers. Typically the people who experienced these wounds were elderly Caucasian females however a sub-group of younger males of Asian descent were seen to experience ulcers involving neuropathy. The leg ulcers were typically small in size although 33 people had wounds over 25 cm2 in surface area. The leg ulcers tended to persist with many present for at least 1 year with 4 wounds active for over 5 years. 205 people had experienced previous episodes of leg ulcer occurrence. Of the leg ulcers encountered 18.0% (n = 87) were infected and where wounds were swabbed for their microbial burden MRSA was identified in 8.5% of cases. Use of Doppler ultrasound to assess the aetiology of the wound had been performed in 66.4% of cases and where wounds remained undiagnosed (n = 69) only 8 had been Doppler assessed. While 75% of all venous leg ulcers received compression 48 people with venous leg ulcers did not have compression applied to their wound.

No