title: A collaborative project to enhance efficiency through dressing change practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A collaborative project between Hull CHCP and Smith and Nephew wound management, which sought to enhance practice efficiency, specifically in relation to the optimisation of dressing change frequency. The project involved the use of a new foam dressing (Allevyn Life, Smith & Nephew, Hull) designed to manage wound exudate more effectively, be more acceptable to patients by masking staining of the dressing surface, and to provide both the patient and clinical staff with an indicator for dressing change.
  
  
  METHODS
  The project comprised a targeted programme of training and education to promote appropriate use of the new product and encourage practice change in dressing change frequency. The frequency of nursing visits, dressing changes and, where applicable, the reasons for a dressing change were documented pre- and post-implementation to determine the effect of this approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Switching to the new dressing was accompanied by a reduction in dressing change visit frequency in 97.3% (36/37) of patients. The mean reduction in dressing change frequency was 1.8 visits per week, representing a 50.0% reduction. Post-implementation the mean number of dressings used per patient per dressing change had fallen from 2.1 at baseline to 1.1 (a 47.6% reduction). Furthermore, at baseline an average of 9.8 dressings were used per week per patient. This fell to an average of 2.0 dressings per week per patient following implementation, a reduction in dressings per patient of 79.6%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results illustrate that a much less complex approach to the use of dressing products can be achieved. Furthermore, they demonstrate that with the adoption of advanced practice-enhancing products, coupled with appropriate training, education and effective promotion of practice change, valuable nursing time can be released.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Alistair Bielby is a contractor for Smith & Nephew. Richard Searle is an employee of Smith & Nephew. This project was supported by an unrestricted grant from Smith & Nephew.
authors.affiliation: Senior Operations Manager, Adult Services and Modernisation City Health Care Partnership CIC Adult Services Hull.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Joy
authors.affiliation: Freelance Clinical Project Manager;, Freelance Clinical Project Manager.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bielby
authors.affiliation: Health Economics Manager;, Health Economics Manager Smith & Nephew Medical Ltd.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Searle
mesh_terms: D003152:Community Health Nursing; D015897:Comorbidity; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011140:Polyurethanes; C081143:allevyn
keywords: Allevyn Life; dressings; foam dressing; standard of care; wound healing