Health benefits of an innovative model of care for chronic wounds patients in Queensland. Issue 2 (11th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tulleners, Ruth; Brain, David; Lee, Xing; Cheng, Qinglu; Graves, Nicholas; Pacella, Rosana E.
• Is Part Of: International wound journal. Volume 16:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 334
• Page End: 342
• Publication Date: 2018-11-11
• Subjects: chronic wounds -- evidence‐based practice -- patient‐centred care -- specialist service -- transdisciplinary; Wounds and injuries -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Wounds and injuries -- Periodicals; Wound healing -- Periodicals; 617.1005
• DOI: 10.1111/iwj.13033
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-4801

Abstract

Abstract : Wound management in Australia suffers from a lack of adequate coordination and communication between sectors that impacts patient outcomes and costs. Wound Innovations is a specialist service comprising of a transdisciplinary team that aims to streamline and improve patient care and outcomes. We compared patient experiences and outcomes prior to accessing this specialist service, and the 3 months following their enrolment at the clinic. Information on patient experiences, wound history, and outcomes was collected through interviews and a review of medical records for the 12 months prior to enrolment at the clinic. Wound progress, quality of life (QoL) outcomes, and service use were tracked during the 3‐month prospective phase. A sample of 29 participants was recruited. 40% healed completely by 3 months, with the average time to healing being 8 weeks. The average QoL score at baseline was 0.69 (from a score of 1, being best health imaginable). At 3 months, the average QoL score increased significantly to 0.84 ( P ≤0.001). On average, participants attended the clinic 4.6 times. The average decrease in wound size was 85.4% (95% CI [75.7%, 95%]). Accessing wound care treatment at a specialist, multidisciplinary wound clinic leads to an increase in QoL and access to consistent evidence‐based practices.