The study explored the experiences of people with diabetes (PWD) in a social media-based foot self-management education and support (SMES) program, Diabetic Foot Care Group (DFCG). Aimed at reducing diabetic foot ulcers, the qualitative-based summative evaluation examined participants' foot self-care practices, changes, preferences, and recommendations after three months in DFCG. The positive feedback underscored five themes on how DFCG changed foot self-care practices: in-depth knowledge, perceived susceptibility, sense-making, informed decision, and self-motivation. Participants reported improved foot care and preferred the online nature of DFCG over in-person programs.
The article presents findings from the second survey of a qualitative study on the experiences of wound care clinicians providing care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey focused on three themes: clinician perspectives on working conditions and work-life balance, location-specific policies and their impacts, and technology as an asset and/or barrier. The study highlights the impact of the pandemic on healthcare professionals' ability to deliver care, as well as its consequences on psychological health, professional confidence, educational development, and work-life balance. The first survey's findings were also referenced to provide a broader understanding of the pandemic's complexities on healthcare professionals' efforts to provide skin and wound care services to patients.
Kuhnke J, Jack-Malik S, Botros M, Rosenthal S, McCallum C, Bassett K. Early COVID-19 and the experiences of Canadian wound care clinicians: preliminary findings. Wounds International. 2021;12(2):14-19. Click here to view.
These preliminary data are part of a larger qualitative study designed to explore the experiences and learnings of frontline wound care clinicians in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. This body of work may influence further research and the development of wound-related policies. Individuals on Wounds Canada’s mailing list were invited to describe their experiences in a qualitative survey. Questions focused on how the delivery of wound care services were influenced during the early months of COVID-19. Using a Likert Scale, and the option to provide additional details, participant responses varied and are represented by five overarching themes, which are discussed in this article. This research is significant in its description of the limitations and challenges healthcare providers faced when providing care during a pandemic. The data-collection process offers an outlet for clinicians to share their experiences and have their voices heard. It also provides possibilities for the provision of consistent and high-quality wound care during a pandemic. Furthermore, the data highlight some of the issues faced by clinicians and patients/families when technology is required as part of receiving care. These data could be used to develop new, or modify existing, professional development opportunities.
LeBlanc K, Woo K, Bassett K, Botros, M. Professionals’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Related to Pressure Injuries in Canada. Advances in Skin & Wound Care. 2019;32(5):228-233. Click here to view.
An online survey explored Canadian healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to pressure injuries (PIs), which represent a significant burden on the healthcare system. Eighty-five percent of respondents confirmed that PIs occur in their work environments, and 29% identified them as a frequent occurrence. While between 80% and 90% confirm using offloading devices including prophylactic dressings for prevention, only 20% instituted measures to address moisture-associated skin damage. This survey highlights a gap between awareness of PIs among healthcare professionals and the implementation of best practices for prevention.
Kuhnke J, Keast D, Rosenthal S, Evans, R. Health professionals' perspectives on delivering patient-focused wound management: a qualitative study. Journal of Wound Care. 2019;28(7):online. Click here to view.
Healthcare professionals involved in wound services were surveyed on the barriers and solutions to delivering patient-focused wound management and outcomes. Education, teamwork and communication, and a higher value placed on wound care by collaborative health teams and policymakers were the key themes that emerged. Participants identified a need for both patient/family and health professional education. Findings suggest an ongoing, system-wide education across professions and contexts would improve the prevention, assessment, treatment, and management of four wound types: venous leg ulcer (VLU), diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), pressure ulcer (PU) and surgical wounds. Participants also identified a health-care system with a clear mandate to prioritze wound care as crucial.
Woodbury MG, Houghton PE. Prevalence of pressure ulcers in Canadian healthcare settings. Ostomy Wound Manage. 2004;50(10):22–24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36–38. Click here to view.
Although statistics regarding the number of pressure ulcers in the U.S. and other countries are available, little information is known about the number of individuals in Canada who have pressure ulcers. Such information is important to assess the scope and health-care costs of pressure ulcers and develop public policies. To obtain estimated pressure ulcer prevalence rates in Canada, existing data (gathered between 1990 and 2003) from different health-care settings across the country were obtained. The overall estimate of the prevalence of pressure ulcers in all health-care institutions across Canada was 26%. Although additional studies are needed, the data suggest that pressure ulcers are a significant concern in all healthcare settings in Canada.
Orsted HL, Rosenthal S, Woodbury MG. Pressure ulcer awareness and prevention program: A quality improvement program through the Canadian Association of Wound Care. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2009;36(2):178–83. Click here to view.
The Canadian Association of Wound Care (Wounds Canada) 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 (PUAP) program to support a culture change in health-care settings that would shift the emphasis from treating existing ulcers to preventing them. This program has been pilot tested, revised, and is being implemented in many Canadian health-care facilities. The program has demonstrated a reduction rate in pressure ulcers up to 57% (prevalence) and 71% (incidence).
Murphy CA, Laforet K, Da Rosa P, Tabamo F, Woodbury MG. Reliability and predictive validity of Inlow's 60-Second Diabetic Foot Screen Tool. Adv Skin Wound Care. 2012;25(6):261–266. Click here to view.
The purpose of this study was to assess Inlow's 60-Second Diabetic Foot Screen Tool to determine its intrarater reliability, interrater reliability, and predictive validity in two health-care settings. An observational study of 69 persons with diabetes (n=26 from acute care setting; n=43 from long-term care setting). The screening tool was administered by two assessors independently to determine interrater reliability and later the same day by one of the assessors to determine intrarater reliability. Occurrence of foot ulcers or amputation was noted 1 to 5 months later to determine predictive validity. This study demonstrates excellent interrater and intrarater reliability and provides preliminary information about predictive validity.
Orsted HL, Woodbury MG, Stevenson K. The Wound CARE Instrument: The process for developing standards for wound management education and programming. IWJ. 2012;9(3):264–270. Click here to view.
This article describes the collaborative process undertaken by the Canadian Association for Enterostomal Therapy and the Canadian Association of Wound Care (Wounds Canada) in an effort to improve the quality of wound prevention and management education and programming. The end result of this process is the Wound CARE Instrument, which promotes an interprofessional, collaborative appraisal process to support the development, adoption or adaption of wound management educational events and programs. The Wound CARE Instrument is a valuable tool to aid in the appraisal and evaluation of wound management education and programming within a clinical setting and may not be applicable for academic settings.
Woodbury MG, Botros M, Kuhnke JL, Greene J. Evaluation of a peer-led self-management education programme PEP Talk: Diabetes, Health Feet and You. IWJ. 2013;10(6):703–711. Click here to view.
PEP (Peer Education Programme) Talk: Diabetes, Healthy Feet and You is a peer‐led self‐management programme developed to address the problems of growing prevalence of diabetes and its complications, and limited health-care dollars. An evaluation of the programme, how it might be situated within a public health perspective and potential bridges for its implementation in communities throughout Canada and worldwide, are presented. It is recommended that this programme be made widely available and tailored to the specific needs of the communities and that further evaluation be conducted.