title: Instruction of compression therapy by means of interface pressure measurement.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Compression therapy of the leg is the cornerstone in the conservative treatment of venous ulcers. The application of compression bandages, however, is largely a matter of personal experience.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the interface pressure under compression bandages and to improve the technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six courses on wound healing with 24-28 participants as well as individual training at our hospital were provided. Interface pressure at the distal medial calf was measured using a simple, but accurate pressure sensor that was built for this purpose (accuracy: +/-3 mm Hg).
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the wound healing courses, the absolute difference from the target pressure of 35-45 mmHg improved from 8.4 mm Hg (95% CI 0.0-34.1) to 3.5 mm Hg (95% CI 0.0-14.0) (P = .0001). After four sessions, interface pressures greater than 60 mmHg were avoided. During individual training, even nurses with everyday experience in compression therapy improved their accuracy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need for objective measurement of interface pressure in the teaching of compression therapy with bandages. The principles can be taught during a few exercises. However, repeated practice over a longer period of time is necessary to reach a certain accuracy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. jhafner@derm.unizh.ch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hafner
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lüthi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hänssle
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kammerlander
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burg
mesh_terms: D001458:Bandages; D004496:Education, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000628:therapy*; D011312:Pressure; D019722:Sphygmomanometers; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*