A significant part of wound management includes educating the patient, the caregiver, and the healthcare providers who deal with the often devastating and life-changing effects of wounds. Frequently, medical professionals, as well as the majority of the general public, do not keep up with important advances in wound care.
Admittedly, access to this education is limited. However, education is one of the main areas of concern to the AAWC. Since it was founded in 1995, the AAWC has provided networking opportunities, service, and information to clinicians, industry, and the public.
Several AAWC Task Forces are addressing current wound care issues. The Public Awareness Task Force mounted a campaign to publish a series of educational brochures, each with a focus on distinct skin issues. Task Force members sought to develop two versions of information and instructions: one for the general public and the other for healthcare professionals. Topics to be addressed include:
• Treatment of minor wounds
• Care of the skin
• Pressure ulcers
• Diabetic/neuropathic feet
The first committee began work on brochures to address the treatment of minor wounds. Committee members included Harriett B. Loehne, PT, DPT, CWS, FCCWS (author and Chair); Carolyn Stennett, CTSB; Cindy Van Steelandt, PT, CWS; Donna Scemons, RN, MSN, FNP-C, CNS, CWOCN; Anne Myer, PT, GCS, CWS; and Mary Haddow, RNC, CWCN. All agreed that the most common wounds managed by the public are abrasions, bruises, cuts, and skin tears; hence, the title “The ABCs of Skin and Wound Care.”
After 2 years of research and with approval from the AAWC Board of Directors, the committee presented the public and professional brochures on the treatment of minor wounds for publication. Discussion on each wound type (abrasion, bruise, cut, and skin tear) is illustrated with a color photograph and includes essential information addressing etiology, risk factors, cautions, and treatment, as well as instructions for reprinting. The public brochure (“A Guide for Treating Minor Wounds for Patients and their Caregivers) and the professional brochure (“A Guide for Healthcare Providers on the Treatment of Minor Wounds”) are designed similarly (trifold, four-panel) and make convenient reference documents.
Each wound discussion in the public brochure includes a definition/description of the wound, who is at risk, and information regarding the causes, care, and prevention written with people in the general public who are managing minor wounds at home in mind.
The text in the professional brochure is composed with the healthcare professional in mind while cognizant of the fact that many clinicians are unaware of the current standard of care for wound management. Signs and symptoms, causes, risk factors, and treatment of abrasions, bruises, cuts, and skin tears are addressed as well as alerts and precautions so healthcare professionals become aware of treatments that are out-of-date and potentially harmful.
When distributing the brochures to patients and their caregivers at health fairs and community events, several misconceptions regarding care have been noted:
1. Povidone iodine is good for a wound.
2. Hydrogen peroxide is good for a wound.
3. A wound should be left open to the air to dry to heal.
The brochures stimulated thoughtful and productive discussion; “I need to go home and clean out my medicine cabinet” was heard often. The cytotoxicity of products advertised to the public for use as wound cleansers and healers and the concept of moist wound healing need to be stressed. Because of improvements and increased awareness of wound management, the brochures should prove useful not only at health fairs, but also in schools, physician waiting rooms, libraries, drug stores (placed near health supplies), churches, and day care centers. The brochures educate with an important take home message.
The professional version has been sought by urgent care centers and emergency rooms, as well as by family practice physicians. The brochures are being distributed by industry as educational material for customers and are proving useful in teaching situations both in the classroom and multidisciplinary continuing education.
Obtaining Brochures Members of the AAWC received a copy of each brochure. They can be downloaded from the AAWC website, www.aawcone.org (you do not have to be a member) at no charge if used for educational purposes. Requests for multiple reprints at a nominal fee should be directed to AAWC at 866-AAWC-999 or 610-560-0484. Email: info@aawcone.org
Future Projects The next project — The Skin You’re In — will address care and treatment of skin problems. It is anticipated that the information subsequently provided in all four Public Awareness modules will lay a strong foundation to support ongoing education of the healthcare community and the public regarding the AAWC and advances in wound healing.
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