Wound Care Nursing Education in the Acute Care Setting.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of a survey study exploring how nurses in acute care prefer to be educated, particularly regarding wound management in the acute care setting. METHODS: This pilot study utilized a cross-sectional survey design that included both open-ended and close-ended questions. Participants (N = 47) completed the Index of Learning Styles Questionnaire and provided information regarding their educational preferences related to wound management through use of an online survey. RESULTS: Participants described the importance of varying educational techniques by topic, ensuring an appropriate time of day for education, and preferring smaller educational sessions over time. Most participants preferred one-on-one bedside education, and the most commonly reported learning styles were active, sensing, visual, and a balanced approach to sequential and global learning. There were few correlations between learning styles and choice of education method, only one of which was expected. CONCLUSIONS: It would be beneficial to conduct this study on a larger scale to confirm results, improve understanding of the correlations, and determine further potential correlations between study variables.

Impact of prolonged PPE use on Canadian health professionals.

AIM: To explore the impact that prolonged use of personal protective equipment (PPE) has on the skin integrity of Canadian health professionals. METHOD: A descriptive, pan-Canadian, cross-sectional, online survey was carried out to explore the type and prevalence of PPE-related skin injury among Canadian health professionals. Convenience sampling was used to disseminate the online survey link to health professionals. RESULTS: There were responses from 757 health professionals. Masks worn included surgical masks (90%), a combination of surgical or N95/KN95 masks (7.7%) and an N95/KN95 mask alone (2.7%). Responses showed 84.6% of providers always wear a mask while at work with 38.5% wearing the same mask all shift; 90% of participants wore protective eye wear. Complications included soreness or pressure injuries behind the ears (70%), new or worsening acne (52%), a runny nose or sneezing (45%), itching (39%), and dry skin (37%). Hand issues included dry skin (53%), red skin (30%), itching (26%), broken skin (20%), rash (16%), and dermatitis (11%) - 51% of respondents did not moisturise their hands. Complications related to gown use included itching (6%), moisture-associated skin damage (5.5%), feeling claustrophobic (4.5%), and new or worsening acne (3%). Increased perspiration due to PPE was experienced in 87.5% of respondents. Some 43% of respondents noted their mental health became worse due to wearing PPE for prolonged periods. CONCLUSION: These findings should be used in the development of guidelines to prevent and manage PPE-related skin injuries among health professionals. Education for professionals should focus on skin protection, prevention of PPE-related skin complications and support for mental health issues.

The Financial Impact of Living in Canada With an Ostomy: A Cross-sectional Survey.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to explore how living with an ostomy financially impacts Canadians. METHODS: A descriptive, pan-Canadian, cross-sectional online and paper-based survey was conducted using a convenience sample. RESULTS: Surveys were completed by 467 individuals. Seventy-six percent (n = 355) reported spending more than $1000 annually on ostomy supplies, with 58% (n = 271) paying partially out of pocket. Atlantic regions relied primarily on insurance (n = 81), and the central, prairies, and western regions used a combination of funding (provincial government funding and/or insurance) (n = 385) with no significant out-of-pocket funding differences between regions (χ = 18.267, P = .079). Fifteen percent (n = 70) reported frequent peristomal skin problems, and 19% (n = 89) indicated that having an ostomy negatively affected their ability to work. When experiencing ostomy-related problems, 60% (n = 280) sought assistance from a nurse specialized in wound, ostomy, and continence (NSWOC) and spent significantly less on ostomy supplies (χ = 231.267, P < .001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that living with an ostomy may result in financial burden and that Canadian regional variations in funding and access to an NSWOC should be explored.