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Clinical Research
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The Frequency of Dressing Product Use by Category in 81,142 Patients treated at 16 Outpatient Wound Centers: A Report from the Intellicure Research Co First Author: Caroline Fife Authors: Gordon Otto, PhD, Brett Thomson, Karen Swaby, RN Purpose: Users of a wound care specific, "Level 4" electronic health record (EHR)* which archives all aspects of wound documentation and patient medical care at point of service agree to participate in a "Research Consortium," allowing analysis of "de-identified" longitudinal data which is free from possible third party bias. Goals of this study included analysis of the frequency with which dressing categories are changed over the course of wound treatment, and the pattern of use in relation to outcome. Methods: Analysis of longitudinal data in the EHRs of 16 outpatient wound centers in 11 states involved 81,142 patient visits between 8/31/2001 and 11/24/2006. Results: In patients who ultimately healed, an average of 4 product categories were used over the course of care (i.e., debriding agent, antimicrobial product, absorbent product, moisture retaining product). In patients who failed to heal, a greater number of product categories were used, and more frequent changes between categories (p=<.01). There was a relationship between wound size (and treatment duration) and number of different product categories used. Conclusion: Dressing products are changed over the course of care in all wound types and specific patterns of use are apparent. *Intellicure, Inc |
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