Resources

Wound malodour is often an unpleasant side-effect experienced by patients with hard-to-heal wounds. The impact on mental and physical wellbeing is profound and can result in  embarrassment, social isolation, depression and nausea. This list is not exhaustive and understanding the effect of malodour on an individual should be considered during holistic patient assessment. This article presents the findings of two surveys which aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the impact that malodour has on individuals and also the challenges experienced by healthcare professionals (HCPs) when treating patients with malodorous wounds. The patient survey was completed by 29 people, of which 76% (n=22) experienced wound malodour. The HCPs survey was completed by 789 respondents and challenges highlighted included lack of training and education, limited access to appropriate dressings and managing  patient expectations.

Hard-to-heal wounds present a significant challenge in healthcare, requiring a comprehensive understanding of the wound healing process and effective management strategies. A survey was conducted by the Journal of Community Nursing among its registered online members to explore the current opinions and challenges faced by healthcare professionals (HCPs) who are involved in delivering wound care, including opinions on advanced wound therapies. The survey, which consisted of 14 questions, highlighted some interesting findings including several challenges experienced when treating patients with wounds. Results revealed that 69% (n=311) of participants indicated a lack of time and resources as the primary barrier. Patient compliance (67%, n=303), limited access to advanced therapies (47% n=211), insufficient training (37%), and cost pressures (32% n=145) were also significant concerns. Despite these challenges, most respondents (63%, n=281) felt ‘somewhat satisfied’ with their ability to manage wounds, but found the process frustrating due to the difficulties that they encountered.

This paper reports on the results of a clinician survey exploring the real world experience of clinicians using a range of gelling fibre dressings (Exufiber and Exufiber Ag+;  Mölnlycke Healthcare, Gothenburg SW).

As a clinician, it is important that you are aware of all the latest new products that have the potential to improve outcomes for you and your patients. Each month, Wound Care Today will highlight a product that is new, improved or innovative to keep you up to date with what is available. This month, we focus on eKare inSight®, a unique and easy to use Wound Management Digital System (WMDS) that transforms a smartphone into a medical device enabling standardised, accurate wound assessment at the point of care.

Lymphoedema is a chronic, progressive condition, which can have a significant impact on patients ó both physically and psychologically. While there is no cure, it is vital that the condition is effectively managed to prevent deterioration and its impact on patient quality of life.

Venous Leg ulcers ( are the most common type of leg ulcer, accounting for up to 60 80 of all leg ulcers(NICE 2021 Living with a venous leg ulcer can have a huge impact on the quality of life of patients (Olsson Friman 2009 There are many reasons why living with a wound affects health related quality of life HRQoL These can often be linked to physical
functioning, psychosocial functioning, and the impact on set treatments including pain, mobility, sleep and routine daily activities (Vishwanath 2014 P atients with chronic wounds of the lower extremity often experience functional disability and emotional distress, which impact negatively on patient quality of life Roper et al 2000 recognise that HRQoL often
depends on an ability to independently carry out daily activities As evidence suggests that VLUs impact both hrQoL and daily activities of living, it is important that these issues are assessed and addressed as part of the plan of care

Background and Aim

• Sub-Epidermal Moisture (SEM) measurement detects early, non-visible pressure ulcers (PUs) five days* earlier than visual-skin-assessments (VSA)1 regardless of skin tone2. SEM assessments are recognised in international clinical practice guidelines3.
• Collaboration with 31 acute-care settings in five countries allowed implementation of a GDPRcompliant pressure ulcer reduction program (PURP) to evaluate the impact of implementing SEM assessment technology in PU standards of care (SoC) by means of a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) approach; with a repeatable, pragmatic programme.

730, 000 adults (1.5% of the adult population) of the UK have a leg ulcer in one year.(1) As a major vascular surgical hub, our department, is passionate in exploring new innovations in wound management. According to NICE (2016), dressings should provide the optimal environment for wound healing(2l As a team we were given an opportunity to assess the clinical impact of a new innovative Bioactive microfibre gelling (BMG) dressing (MaxioCel®) to promote faster wound healing, improve patient experience, and shorten length of hospital stay for our patients. 

Background and Aim

• Annual cost to UK healthcare system alone reportedat £2.1 Billion¹
• Average treatment costs per patient range from £1,400 to >£8,500 (Category 3, 4 PUs)²
• Adds 5 to 8 days to patient’s length of stay³
• Sub-epidermal Moisture (SEM) is the established biomarker to detect microscopic tissue damage even before visual skin assessments (VSA)^4,5
• This health-economic evaluation describes the costeffectiveness of implementing SEM assessment technology* in the standard of care for PU prevention