To dress or not to dress surgical wounds? Patients' attitudes to wound care after major abdominal operations.
OBJECTIVE
To find out what patients' attitudes were to wound care after abdominal operations to ensure that patients' own views were not violated by introducing a new method of wound care.


METHODS
Randomised study.


METHODS
University hospital, Sweden.


METHODS
68 consecutive patients operated for benign gastrointestinal disease.


METHODS
Patients were randomised to have their abdominal wounds dressed or exposed. On their last day in hospital their attitudes were assessed by visual analogue score and questionnaire.


METHODS
Attitudes to wound care.


RESULTS
There were no differences between the two groups in any of the variables studied. The visual analogue scores for postoperative pain were higher than had been anticipated.


CONCLUSIONS
Most patients do not mind whether their wounds are covered with a dressing or not after abdominal operations.
Persson
M
M
Department of Surgery, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Svenberg
T
T
Poppen
B
B
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001458:Bandages; D006801:Humans; D011182:Postoperative Care