Authors:

Zena Moore, Seamus Cowman

Background:

In Ireland there is no strategy or standardised policies for the management of wounds.

Objective:

This study aimed to describe the nature of wounds managed, identify the providers of wound care advice, determine the existence of policy/guidelines and examine costing issues.

Method:

A pre-piloted questionnaire was used to collect data from the 121 Directors of Nursing/Public Health Nursing in all community care areas and hospitals (with a capacity of 40 or more beds) in Ireland.

Results:

A response rate of 96% was obtained. Leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, and pressure ulcers were the most commonly encountered wound types and were mostly encountered in the long-stay setting, where the access to specialist wound management services was poorest.

Conclusion:

The results confirm an unsatisfactory wound management system in Ireland and recommendations are made for the conduct of similar studies in other EU member states.

Declaration of interest:

This was a joint project between The Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and the School of Pharmacy, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). The study was funded by a research grant from the RCSI and an unrestricted research grant from ConvaTec, Ireland.