Open AccessA descriptive cross‐sectional international study to explore current practices in the assessment, prevention and treatment of skin tears
Author(s) -
LeBlanc Kimberly,
Baranoski Sharon,
Holloway Samantha,
Langemo Diane,
Regan Mary
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
international wound journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.867
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1742-481X
pISSN - 1742-4801
DOI - 10.1111/iwj.12203
Subject(s) - medicine , documentation , cross sectional study , family medicine , descriptive statistics , clothing , pathology , statistics , mathematics , archaeology , computer science , history , programming language
This study presents the results of a descriptive, cross‐sectional, online international survey in order to explore current practices in the assessment, prediction, prevention and treatment of skin tears ( ST s). A total of 1127 health care providers ( HCP ) from 16 countries completed the survey. The majority of the respondents (69·6%, n = 695) reported problems with the current methods for the assessment and documentation of ST s with an overwhelming majority (89·5%, n = 891) favouring the development of a simplified method of assessment. Respondents ranked equipment injury during patient transfer and falls as the main causes of ST s. The majority of the samples indicated that they used non‐adhesive dressings (35·89%, n = 322) to treat a ST , with the use of protective clothing being the most common method of prevention. The results of this study led to the establishment of a consensus document, classification system and a tool kit for use by practitioners. The authors believe that this survey was an important first step in raising the global awareness of ST s and to stimulate discussion and research of these complex acute wounds.