Role of admission rapid antigen testing (RATs) for COVID-19 on patients transferred from acute hospitals to a postacute rehabilitation setting.

Background: Rapid antigen tests (RATs) are suitable for point-of-care testing, require no laboratory time, and give immediate results. However, are RATs useful for detecting asymptomatic COVID-19 infection when compared with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing in health care settings?

Methods: RAT testing was carried out on all new admissions without a history of confirmed COVID-19 infection within 3 months of admission. PCR testing was carried out on all patients with a positive RAT for confirmation purposes.

The correlation between sub-epidermal moisture assessment and other early indicators of pressure ulcer development: A prospective cohort observational study. Part 2. The correlation between sub-epidermal moisture assessment, temperature, epidermal hydration and pain.

There is growing interest in the roles of temperature, epidermal hydration (EH) and pain in pressure ulcer (PU) development. Investigating correlations between these measures and sub-epidermal moisture (SEM) will address this knowledge deficit. A prospective observational study enrolled 60 surgical patients from February to November 2021.

Biomarkers of local inflammation at the skin's surface may predict both pressure and diabetic foot ulcers.

This commentary considers the similarities which exist between pressure ulcers (PUs) and diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). It aims to describe what is known to be shared-both in theory and practice-by these wound types. It goes on to detail the literature surrounding the role of inflammation in both wound types.

Can thermography predict diabetic foot ulcer risk in patients with diabetes mellitus? A systematic review.

Background: There is a growing prevalence of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) in patients with diabetes mellitus and the use of thermography has sparked interest in a non-invasive diagnostic method for early DFU risk assessment and management.

Aim: This systematic review aims to assess the use of thermography in predicting diabetic foot ulcer risk in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Methods: A systematic search of publications using MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases was conducted in April 2023, and relevant articles were reviewed.

The impact of burnout on paediatric nurses' attitudes about patient safety in the acute hospital setting: A systematic review.

Background: Patient safety is the cornerstone of quality healthcare. Nurses have a duty to provide safe care, particularly to vulnerable populations such as paediatric patients. Demands on staff and resources are rising and burnout is becoming an increasingly prevalent occupational hazard in paediatric healthcare today.

'Sometimes You Have No Choice but to Give Them Medication': Experiences of Nurses Caring for People With Auditory Hallucinations in an Acute Unit.

The aim of this study was to explore psychiatric nurse's experiences of caring for people with auditory hallucinations in an acute unit. A qualitative study was conducted using thematic analysis. The study involved semi-structured interviews with 18 acute unit nurses all of whom provided interventions to patients with auditory hallucinations.

A systematic review on the impact of sub-epidermal moisture assessments on pressure ulcer/injury care delivery pathways.

To assess all published studies which describe what happens to the delivery of pressure ulcer/injury (PI/PU) care pathways as a result of detecting raised sub-epidermal moisture (SEM) delta (∆ ≥ 0.6). We undertook a systematic review of the literature, and included original research studies using either a prospective or retrospective study design that report the impact that assessment using SEM assessments have on healthcare practitioners' delivery of PI/PU care pathways in adults at risk of developing PI/PUs.

Pressure ulcer risk assessment in the ICU. Is it time for a more objective measure?

Background: The Braden scale, one of the most widely used risk assessment tools is often criticized when used in the Intensive Care Unit. Most patients in the Intensive Care Unit are at risk of pressure ulcer development meaning that the Braden score will usually indicate high risk for these patients. This study set out to determine the correlation between Sub-Epidermal Moisture measurements and Braden scores among Intensive Care Unit patients.

A systematic review of the impact of compression therapy on quality of life and pain among people with a venous leg ulcer.

Aim: To gain a greater understanding of how compression therapy affects quality of life, this systematic review appraised existing published studies measuring the impact of compression therapy on health quality of life (HRQoL), and pain, among people with venous leg ulcers (VLU).

Method: Five databases were searched, and two authors extracted data and appraised the quality of selected papers using the RevMan risk of bias tool. Due to heterogeneity in the types of compression and instruments used to evaluate HRQoL, meta-analysis was not appropriate; thus, a narrative synthesis of findings was undertaken.

The correlation between sub-epidermal moisture measurement and other early indicators of pressure ulcer development-A prospective cohort observational study. Part 1. The correlation between sub-epidermal moisture measurement and ultrasound.

The correlation between sub-epidermal moisture (SEM) and other early indicators of pressure ulcer (PU) development is yet to be determined. This three-part series aims to bridge this knowledge gap, through investigating SEM and its correlation with evidence-based technologies and assessments. This article focuses on the correlation between SEM and ultrasound.

Integrating Point-of-Care Bacterial Fluorescence Imaging-Guided Care with Continued Wound Measurement for Enhanced Wound Area Reduction Monitoring.

Aim: This prospective observational study investigated wound area reduction (WAR) outcomes in a complex wound population composed of non-healing acute and chronic wounds. The relationship between bacterial autofluorescence signals and WAR was investigated. Area measurements were collected both manually and digitally, and both methods were compared for accuracy.

A systematic review of patient risk factors for complications following stoma formation among adults undergoing colorectal surgery.

Background: Stoma formation is a commonly performed procedure both during and following colorectal surgery. When designed correctly, stomas can dramatically improve patients' quality of life, but the reverse may occur when complications arise. Given the significant negative impact of complications following stoma formation, understanding risk factors that may be mitigated pre-operatively is important.

The impact of brain tissue oxygenation monitoring on the Glasgow Outcome Scale/Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended in patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury: A systematic review.

Background: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are one of the leading causes of death or long-term disability around the world. As a result of improvements in supportive care, patients are surviving more severe insults with more pronounced dependency on their families, hospitals, and long-term care facilities. The introduction of brain tissue oxygenation (PbtO2) monitoring aims to recognize episodes of reduced cerebral perfusion with and without associated increased intracranial pressure (ICP).

Assessing nurses' attitudes towards pressure ulcer prevention: an updated systematic review.

Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to critically appraise and synthesise the existing research literature pertaining to nurses' attitudes toward pressure ulcer (PU) prevention.

Method: The systematic review presented in our paper serves as an updated version of the definitive review conducted by Avsar et al. in 2019.

Assessing the healthcare costs associated with venous leg ulcer compression bandages - A scoping review.

Aim: To determine the monetary costs identified in economic evaluations of treatment with compression bandages among adults with venous leg ulcers (VLU).

Method: A scoping review of existing publications was conducted in February 2023. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used.

The impact of healthcare assistant education on pressure ulcer prevention: a systematic review.

Objective: To investigate the impact of education for healthcare assistants (HCAs) on their knowledge and skills in pressure ulcer (PU) prevention and on the incidence of PUs. A secondary aim was to evaluate education methodologies used in PU prevention programmes.

Method: Using systematic review methodology, key databases were searched with no limitations on date of publication.

Development and validation of a survey designed to measure patient experience of and preference for surgical wound care discharge education: A pilot study.

Aim Of The Study: To develop and undertake validation testing of a survey designed to measure patients' experiences of and preferences for surgical wound care discharge education.

Materials And Methods: A literature review and content analysis was undertaken on patients' experiences of and preferences for surgical wound care discharge education. Four themes were uncovered in the literature (wound care discharge education, preferences for discharge education delivery, participation in wound care decisions and patient ability to manage their surgical wound to prevent wound complications), which guided item generation.

What is the prevalence of chronic venous disease among health care workers? A scoping review.

Chronic venous disease (CVD) occurs because of structural or functional disturbances to the venous system of the lower limbs. Signs and symptoms include leg pain, swelling, varicose veins, and skin changes, with venous ulceration ultimately occurring in severe disease. To assess the prevalence of CVD among health care workers, a scoping review of existing publications exploring the prevalence of CVD among health care workers was conducted in July 2022.

Wound pH and temperature as predictors of healing: an observational study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure wound pH, wound temperature and wound size together to gain further understanding of their impact as predictors of wound healing outcomes.

Method: This study employed a quantitative non-comparative, prospective, descriptive observational design. Participants with both acute and hard-to-heal (chronic) wounds were observed weekly for four weeks.

The Effect of Prophylactic Silicone Dressings on the Incidence of Pressure Injuries on Patients in the Acute Care Setting: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Purpose: To explore the effect of silicone dressings on the prevention of pressure injuries in patients cared for in the acute care setting. Three main comparisons were explored: silicone dressing versus no dressing, all anatomical areas; silicone dressing versus no dressing on the sacrum; and silicone dressing versus no dressing on the heels.

Methods: Using a systematic review methodology, published randomized controlled trials and cluster randomized controlled trials were included.

The role of proinflammatory cytokines in the detection of early pressure ulcer development: a systematic review.

Objective: Pressure ulcers (PUs) commonly occur over bony prominences and are notoriously difficult to treat. Proinflammatory cytokines are substances that initiate the inflammatory process preceding PU development. The aim of this review was to assess whether the increased presence of proinflammatory cytokines could potentially be used as an early detection system for PU development.

Sub epidermal moisture measurement and targeted SSKIN bundle interventions, a winning combination for the treatment of early pressure ulcer development.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of sub epidermal moisture (SEM) measurement and targeted pressure ulcer (PU) prevention, versus visual skin assessment and usual care, on mean SEM delta scores and early pressure ulcer development in acute hospital patients. A quantitative quasi-experimental observational approach was used. A total of 149 at risk acute hospital patients took part, 78 treatment, and 71 control.

What is the impact of home non-invasive ventilation on the health-related quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease? A systematic review.

Objectives: To ascertain the impact of home non-invasive ventilation (NIV) on the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Design: Systematic review.

Methods: A preliminary search of computerised databases (CINAHL, Medline, Clinical Key, Cochrane) was conducted in June 2021, without any limitations on publication date.