[Prevalence of skinwounds in home care program patients in two local community health centers in Barcelona: nursing care implications].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of skin wounds in patients enrolled in a home care (HC) program in two local community health centers in the city of Barcelona (Spain) and to identify nurses' opinions on the need to match schedules to the demands of the nursing care of HC patients with skin wounds..


METHODS
We performed a cross-sectional descriptive study. The study subjects consisted of patients included in the HC program who had exhibited some kind of skin injury in April 2006 and nurses from the two local community health centers. The prevalence of skin wounds was calculated using data from computerized nursing records. An anonymous survey of nursing professionals was used to identify their opinions on scheduling.


RESULTS
The computerized registry identified 381 patients included in the HC program, with a prevalence of skin wounds of 9.18%. Forty percent of the home visits carried out by the nurses in April 2006 involved patients with skin wounds. Seventy-two percent of nurses were involved in the HC of patients with skin wounds and 50% believed they needed more time for home care.


CONCLUSIONS
Nursing diagnoses and current disease codes do not include surgical wounds. The diversity of nurses' opinions reveals that current schedule planning is not always satisfactory.
ABS Sant Martí, Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona. España. austrell16378@coib.net
Ana
A
Ustrell-Olaria
Gemma
G
Amorós-Miró
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing*; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain
Prevalencia de heridas de la piel en pacientes de atención domiciliaria de 2 áreas básicas de salud de Barcelona: implicaciones en la práctica enfermera.