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Case Study
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Evaluation of a clear, absorbent acrylic dressing as an advanced-practice wound care tool for use in the community Theresa Hurd, RN, CCRN, MScN, MEd, ACNP, Trish Fowler, RN, ET, Judy Zabrikas, RN, ET Problem: The management of wounds in the community is a growing challenge. Costs associated with treating both acute and chronic wounds are placing a severe strain on the health-care system. Dressing costs can quickly escalate when best-practice protocols are not established. Nursing costs can significantly add to these expenses. In order to reduce costs and provide effective treatment, practitioners require dressings that are multi-purpose: they must be absorptive, require minimal changes, provide autolytic debridement, and be easily applied. Solution: Clear, absorbent acrylic dressings are designed to meet these requirements, while allowing for visual wound assessments. An acrylic dressing was tested by nurses in a community setting. Ten patients with wounds of various etiologies were selected in order to evaluate the efficacy of this advanced-practice product. The objectives were to reduce the frequency of nursing visits, minimize the cost of dressing supplies, and provide clients with an ability to evaluate their own wounds. Teaching the client/caregiver to use visual inspections through the dressing to assess for obvious signs of infection would enhance client control over his/her care, thereby supporting adherence to and satisfaction with the treatment Discovery: The acrylic dressing was found to meet nursing expectations. It was very effective in the latter stages of wound healing (ie, post negative-pressure therapy). Drainage was controlled and a moist environment was maintained. The frequency of nursing visits was reduced. Clients gained a sense of control resulting from the ability to participate in their care. Elderly clients with thin, fragile skin enjoyed minimal discomfort due to less frequent dressing changes. Anxiety was reduced as clients acquired the ability to visually assess their wounds Conclusion: A field-test of clear, absorbent, acrylic dressings demonstrates that these recently introduced products can be an effective option among the family of dressings that promote best-practice wound care . Schimmelpfenning D, Mollenhauer S. Use of a clear, absorbent acrylic dressing for debridement: 630. JWOCN. 2005;(32):3S.. |
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