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- Title
The impact of a standardized protocol on the quality of wound dressing procedures in hospitalized patients.
- Authors
Wuerz, Terry; Hanley, Marilyn; Close, Rebecca; Dow, Gordon
- Abstract
Study purpose A standardized wound dressing protocol was developed in order to reduce procedural inconsistency and improve infection control practice during dressing changes. Sample/setting Forty dressing procedures (20 surgical wounds plus 20 chronic wounds) were audited on adult acute care wards before and after institution of a standardized wound dressing protocol in a 400-bed tertiary care teaching hospital. Methods Sequential pre-and post-intervention audit. Results The implementation of a standardized wound dressing protocol was associated with a significant improvement in subsequent procedural consistency. Utilization of a sterile forceps technique increased from 22.5% (9/40) to 45% (18/40) p=0.033. This was associated with a significant improvement in hand hygiene which increased from 60% (21/35) to 91% (31/34) p=0.0027. Observed postinterventional trends included more consistent use of sterile saline/water for wound cleanSing, less jewellery on the hands of the caregiver and less contamination events. The intervention was not associated with a change in the dUration or cost of wound dressing performance. Implications for practice The adoption of a standardized wound dressing procedure was associated with improvement in both technical consistency and infection control practice without increasing cost or procedure duration.
- Publication
Canadian Journal of Infection Control / Revue Canadienne de Prévention des Infections, 2011, Vol 26, Issue 3, p175
- ISSN
1183-5702
- Publication type
Academic Journal