Development and psychometric property testing of a skin tear knowledge assessment instrument (OASES) in 37 countries.

Aim: To develop and psychometrically evaluate a skin tear knowledge assessment instrument (OASES).

Design: Prospective psychometric instrument validation study.

Method: The skin tear knowledge assessment instrument was developed based on a literature review and expert input (N = 19).

Skin tears: prevention and management.

Skin tears commonly occur at the extremes of age and are associated with skin changes in ageing skin. They are considered to be acute wounds caused by mechanical forces, such as blunt trauma. While the true prevalence and incidence of skin tears is unknown, the available evidence suggests that these wounds occur in all healthcare settings.

Use of Thermal Imaging to Identify Deep-Tissue Pressure Injury on Admission Reduces Clinical and Financial Burdens of Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries.

A deep-tissue pressure injury (DTPI) is a serious type of pressure injury that begins in tissue over bony prominences and can lead to the development of hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs). Using a commercially available thermal imaging system, study authors documented a total of 12 thermal anomalies in 9 of 114 patients at the time of admission to one of the study institution's ICUs over a 2-month period. An intensive, proven wound prevention protocol was immediately implemented for each of these patients.

Comparing Human Amniotic Allograft and Standard Wound Care When Using Total Contact Casting in the Treatment of Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcers.

Objective: This prospective, randomized study compared two treatments for diabetic foot ulcers: total contact cast and a skin substitute versus total contact cast and standard wound care.

Participants: Researchers screened 270 adult outpatients in a Midwestern wound care clinic for inclusion. Adults 18 years or older with type 1 or 2 diabetes and a diabetic foot ulcer located on the plantar surface larger than 0.

Reexamining the Literature on Terminal Ulcers, SCALE, Skin Failure, and Unavoidable Pressure Injuries.

General Purpose: To synthesize the literature regarding skin injuries that are found in patients at the end of life and to clarify the terms used to describe these conditions.

Target Audience: This continuing education activity is intended for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses with an interest in skin and wound care.

Learning Objectives/outcomes: After completing this continuing education activity, you should be better able to:1.

Relative Temperature Maximum in Wound Infection and Inflammation as Compared with a Control Subject Using Long-Wave Infrared Thermography.

Objective: The purpose of this retrospective case series was to determine whether a long-wave infrared thermography (LWIT, or thermal imaging) camera can detect specific temperature changes that are associated with wound infection and inflammation as compared with normal control subjects with similar anatomical wound locations.

Design: A retrospective, observational, collective, multiple case series of patients who underwent digital and thermal imaging of wounds in various states.

Setting: The subjects were selected from multiple sites including an outpatient wound care clinic, a wound care physician's office, a rehabilitation hospital, and a home healthcare organization.

A Reliability Study Using a Long-Wave Infrared Thermography Device to Identify Relative Tissue Temperature Variations of the Body Surface and Underlying Tissue.

Objective: This study assesses the ability of the Scout (WoundVision LLC, Indianapolis, Indiana), an FDA-approved visual and thermal imaging device and software analysis tool, to provide clinicians with a reliable and reproducible way to incorporate long-wave infrared thermography and relative temperature differential into clinical wound assessment by consistently identifying control areas against which to measure wound temperature.

Methods: This laboratory-based study utilized 3 adult wound care professionals experienced in control area selection. Twenty-six previously collected wound images were used for the study.

The VCU Pressure Ulcer Summit: The Search for a Clearer Understanding and More Precise Clinical Definition of the Unavoidable Pressure Injury.

This article reports the findings of the Unavoidable Pressure Ulcer Committee (of the VCU Pressure Ulcer Summit) that was tasked with addressing key issues associated with pressure injuries that are unavoidable or unpreventable. Our goals were (1) to clarify nomenclature and descriptions surrounding "terminal ulceration," (2) to describe the medical complications and comorbid conditions that can lead to skin failure and/or terminal ulceration, (3) to describe the variable possible causes of unavoidable pressure injuries, and (4) to present clinical cases to exemplify pressure injuries considered to be unavoidable.

A Multimodality Imaging and Software System for Combining an Anatomical and Physiological Assessment of Skin and Underlying Tissue Conditions.

Objective: The timely and accurate assessment of skin and underlying tissue is crucial for making informed decisions relating to wound development and existing wounds. The study objective was to determine within- and between-reader agreement of Scout Visual-to-Thermal Overlay (WoundVision LLC, Indianapolis, Indiana) placement (moving the wound edge trace from the visual image onto the wound edge signature of the infrared image).

Materials And Methods: For establishing within- and between-reader agreement of the Scout Visual-to-Thermal Overlay feature, 5 different readers overlaid a wound edge trace from the visual image and placed it onto the congruent thermal representation of the wound on a thermal image 3 independent times.

The Art of Dressing Selection: A Consensus Statement on Skin Tears and Best Practice.

Purpose: To provide information about product selection for the management of skin tears.

Target Audience: This continuing education activity is intended for physicians and nurses with an interest in skin and wound care.

Objectives: After participating in this educational activity, the participant should be better able to:1.

Evidence-based guidelines for pressure ulcer management at the end of life.

It is important to develop an individualised plan of care for people at the end of life to prevent pressure ulcers, and to treat them if they do occur. This article discusses patient and risk assessment, prevention and care for pressure ulcers for the palliative care patient and the recommendations given in the palliative care section of the Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers: Clinical Practice Guideline (National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel and Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance, 2014).

Accuracy and Reproducibility of the Wound Shape Measuring and Monitoring System.

Nineteen known area shapes simulated wounds and were measured using 3 methods and orientations (n = 57). Equivalence and accuracy were tested for ruler length × width and the WoundVision length × width and tracing functions. The WoundVision Coefficient of Individual Agreement value and accuracy were closest to the actual area (Psi_R = 0.

Comparison of standardized clinical evaluation of wounds using ruler length by width and Scout length by width measure and Scout perimeter trace.

The study objective was to examine precision in wound measurement using a recently Food and Drug Administration-approved Scout (WoundVision, LLC, Indianapolis, Indiana) device to measure wound length (L) and width (W). Wound perimeter and a ruler measurement of L and W were also made. Images of 40 actual patient wounds were measured using the Scout device.

Unavoidable pressure injury: state of the science and consensus outcomes.

In the vast majority of cases, appropriate identification and mitigation of risk factors can prevent or minimize pressure ulcer (PU) formation. However, some PUs are unavoidable. Based on the importance of this topic and the lack of literature focused on PU unavoidability, the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel hosted a multidisciplinary conference in 2014 to explore the issue of PU unavoidability within an organ system framework, which considered the complexities of nonmodifiable intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors.

A descriptive cross-sectional international study to explore current practices in the assessment, prevention and treatment of skin tears.

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 (STs). 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 STs with an overwhelming majority (89·5%, n = 891) favouring the development of a simplified method of assessment.

DOMINATE Wounds.

Chronic wounds are a significant health problem worldwide. Often they are initially managed with various focal treatments until a specialist becomes involved, sometimes weeks or months after treatment has begun. Even at the specialist level, practices and guidelines are inconsistent due to a lack of high-level evidence.

International Skin Tear Advisory Panel: a tool kit to aid in the prevention, assessment, and treatment of skin tears using a Simplified Classification System ©.

Purpose: To enhance the learner's competence with knowledge regarding utilization of a tool kit to aid in the prevention, assessment, and treatment of skin tears.

Target Audience: This continuing education activity is intended for physicians and nurses with an interest in skin and wound care.

Objectives: After participating in this educational activity, the participant should be better able to:1.

Validation of a new classification system for skin tears.

Objective: The aim of this study was to validate and establish reliability of the International Skin Tear classification system.

Method: A consensus panel of 12 internationally recognized key opinion leaders convened in 2011 to establish consensus statements on the prevention, prediction, assessment, and treatment of skin tears. Subsequently, a new skin tear classification system was proposed.

Observations of periwound skin protection in venous ulcers: a comparison of treatments.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of 2 products on venous ulcer periwound skin.

Design: This was a descriptive comparative study.

Setting: An outpatient wound care clinic in a rural Midwestern area of the United States.

Planning, conducting, and interpreting prevalence and incidence for the wound practitioner.

Prevalence is a 1-time "snapshot" of cases present on a specific date, and incidence measures the new cases of a disease or condition in a given period. This article discusses prevalence and incidence and gives practical tips for wound care practitioners who plan and conduct prevalence/incidence audits.

General principles and approaches to wound prevention and care at end of life: an overview .

The incidence and prevalence of wounds in persons at the end of life is largely unknown, but wounds are estimated to occur in at least one third of hospice patients. At the end of life, healthcare professionals must help the patient and/ or family decide whether the goals of wound prevention and care should focus on healing or palliation. At all times, it is important to consider that a palliative approach does not negate the potential for wound improvement or even closing before death.