Here - EWMA 2013

FREE PAPER SESSION: E-HEALTH AND HOME CARE
Key Session: Home Care -Wound Care
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Economic aspects of home care – experiences from a Danish
University Hospital
Iben Fasterholdt 1
1 Odense University Hospital (Odense, Denmark).
Background: Odense University Hospital (OUH) in Denmark has organised a wound
centre for outpatient treatment of wounds. However, for fragile patients long
transportation to the centre is not optimal.
Objective: To assess the clinical and economical consequences of pressure wound
treatment by an outgoing specialized hospital nurse in the patients’ home – in
comparison with traditional outpatient visits at the hospital.
Methods: A randomised controlled trial was conducted and clinical and economic data
were collected at baseline and each of the following month until wound healing for each
patient. Clinical parameters (e.g. wound size, pain) were analysed by multiple regression
analysis. Cost comparisons were performed including costs related to staff, wound
materials and transportation costs.
Findings: A total of 76 patients were included. The primary clinical outcomes were
wound healing, wound development and pain. The study found no statistically significant
differences. The mean costs per patient were € 100 lower in the intervention group but
the difference was not statistically significant. Sensitivity analysis showed that the cost
reduction could be € 266 lower when treatment is implemented in daily practice.
Implications for the health system/professionals/patients/society: The research group
recommends establishing an option of outgoing treatment of problematic wounds at
larger hospitals. The target group should be patients unable or unwilling to transport
themselves to the outpatient clinic, or where treatment and prevention do not function in
everyday life and where an improved relationship between hospital and municipality is
needed.
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Free Paper Session: E-health and Home Care
Evaluating usability and cleaning effect of hydroactive combined
SAP & PHMB wound dressing in home care settings
Stefan Krasnik 1 , Peter Kurz 1
1 WPM Wund Pflege Management GmbH (Bad Pirawarth, Austria).
Aim: This study focuses on the effect and usability of hydroactive wound dressings
combined with SAP (superabsorbent polymers) & PHMB (polyhexamethylen-biguanid)
due moist therapy of chronicle wounds in the home care setting. Positive aspects have
been already shown in other studies. These are:
• High cleaning performance
• High tolerance
• Infection protection
• Reduction of microbial loads
• Simple and time-saving application
Methods: A quantitative structural Case Study was established in home care. The data
has been collected in Austria during 3 wound dressing changes with additional
questionnaires and photos. An additional wound swab was done at the beginning and
the end of the study. The wound-dressing changers, specialized on wound treatment
have been chosen by non-profit organizations focused on woundmanagment. The study
was defined as open prospective and non comparative.
Results: The data analysis confirms the results on usability and cleaning effect in the
first step. Photo documentation and questionnaires show
• High cleaning performance
• High tolerance
• Simple application
Photos and statements of wound-dressing changers show a continuous improvement of
the wound situation. Unfortunately the actual sample is too small to make significant
statements concerning reduction of germs. Therefor the sample was already increased
to get a statistical view.
Conclusion: The results approve the positive effect of hydroactive combined SAP &
PHMB wound dressing in home care settings. The sample was already increased to
achieve better evidence and the possibility of significant statements.
EWMA 2013
COPENHAGEN
15-17 May · 2013
Danish Wound
Healing Society
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