Clinical and Economic Impact of Wound Care Using a Polyurethane Foam Multilayer Dressing

Abstract

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To study the impact of a newly introduced dressing on efficiency and quality of care in routine clinical practice in a Spanish community setting. DESIGN AND SETTING An ambispective multicenter observational study was conducted in 24 primary care centers and 6 nursing homes in 4 different Spanish regions. The study was carried out between November 2017 and March 2019. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION A total of 128 wounds in 94 patients (primary care, n = 79; nursing home, n = 15) were analyzed before and 4 weeks after switching to the study dressing. OUTCOME MEASURES Frequency of dressing changes; secondary outcomes were change in the mean wound area and weekly cost and patient and provider satisfaction. MAIN RESULTS The mean number of dressing changes was significantly reduced with the study dressing from 3.14 ± 1.77 changes per week to 1.66 ± 0.87 (P < .001), a 47.1% reduction in frequency. Wound area significantly reduced from 9.90 ± 19.62 cm2 to 7.10 ± 24.33 cm2. In addition, a 58.7% reduction in weekly costs was achieved with the intervention. Patients and providers agreed that their satisfaction with wound care improved. CONCLUSIONS The use of the study dressing in routine clinical practice could lead to a major improvement in both efficiency and quality of wound care. Its use could reduce wound care-related costs through improvements in healing and a reduced frequency of dressing changes. It also enhanced the wound care experience from the perspective of both patients and providers.