Case study methodology in tissue viability. Part 2: A study to determine the levels of knowledge of nurses providing care for patients with leg ulcers in an acute hospital setting.
One of the main components of the clinical governance framework is a comprehensive programme of quality improvement activity that includes the implementation of evidence-based, everyday clinical practice. This paper addresses the challenges surrounding the implementation of one area of evidence-based practice, the management of leg ulcers in an acute hospital trust. The aim of the study was to distinguish the levels of knowledge of nurses providing care for patients with leg ulcers within an acute hospital setting. The design used was that of a collective case study. Each 'case' was a patient with a leg ulcer and the nurses who cared for that patient. They were studied in order to provide insight into the nurses' understanding of leg ulcer management. A number of themes were identified as being common to all the cases. They are: evidence-based practice, nursing skills, quality of life, patient understanding of their ulcer and pain. Each of these themes identified areas of knowledge deficit in the nurses. As part of the implementation of a leg ulcer policy an education programme is being developed to address these deficits.
Dealey
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C
University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust, UK.
D001458:Bandages; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000451:nursing*; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000592:standards*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management; D011788:Quality of Life