title: Evaluation of a new silicone adhesive tape among clinicians caring for patients with fragile or at-risk skin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate performance of a new silicone tape among clinicians caring for patients with fragile skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  An international, multisite, 2-week-use evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Caregivers (n = 217) from acute care hospitals in the United States, United Kingdom, and France who regularly use tapes on patients with fragile skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  The silicone tape was substituted for current-use gentle tapes for a 2-week trial period. Preuse and postuse questionnaires were collected.
  
  
  METHODS
  The main outcome measure was tape preference. Secondary outcomes included (1) satisfaction with current-use tapes, (2) willingness to replace current-use tapes with silicone tape, (3) performance comparisons between tapes, (4) clinician-reported problems with the silicone tape, and (5) case study information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample group consisted of nurses (98.1%), assistants (1.4%), and physicians (0.5%). Hospital units (n = 100) included oncology (31%), medical-surgical (14%), dialysis (12%), infusion/intravenous therapy (16%), critical care (10%), wound care (10%), and other units (7%). Overall preference was 92.0% for the silicone tape, 7.5% for current-use tapes, and 0.5% no preference. Dissatisfaction was 61.2% for current-use tapes, and most clinicians (90.2%) would change to the silicone tape. Evaluators favored (≥71.5%) the silicone tape on 10 performance attributes and on overall performance (91.6%). Most evaluators (75.1%) did not experience problems with the silicone tape, and those who did found problems related to adhesion (77.8%), gentleness (16.0%), and residue (6.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that the silicone tape fills a performance-expectation gap of current acrylic tapes among users of tapes on patients with fragile or at-risk skin.
authors.affiliation: Sonia Manriquez, BSN, RN, WOCN, was a Wound Care Nurse, Scripps Memorial Hospital, Encinitas, California, at the time of the manuscript's submission. She is now retired from that position. Bonnie Loperfido, MA, RN, NP, was a Technical Service Specialist at the time of the manuscript's submission, and Graham Smith, BS, is a Biostatistician, both at 3M Company, Skin and Wound Care Division, St Paul, Minnesota. Ms Loperfido is now retired from her position.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manriquez
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Loperfido
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012828:Silicones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012867:Skin / Q000503:physiopathology*; D053832:Surgical Tape / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States; D035862:Vulnerable Populations; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D012828:Silicones