Development of a Wound Assessment Tool for Use in Adults at End of Life: A Modified Delphi Study.

BACKGROUND: Some patients at end of life (EOL) develop wounds known as Kennedy terminal ulcers, terminal ulcers, and Skin Changes At Life's End. However, there is ambiguity around the defining wound characteristics of these conditions and a lack of validated clinical assessment tools available to identify them. OBJECTIVE: To gain consensus on the definition and characteristics of EOL wounds and establish the face and content validity of a wound assessment tool for use in adults at EOL. METHODS: Using a reactive online Delphi technique, international wound experts reviewed the 20 items in the tool. Over two iterative rounds, experts assessed item clarity, relevance, and importance using a four-point content validity index. The content validity index scores were calculated for each item, with a level of 0.78 or higher signifying panel consensus. RESULTS: Round 1 included 16 panelists (100.0%). The agreement for item relevance and importance ranged from 0.54% to 0.94%, and item clarity scored between 0.25% and 0.94%. Following round 1, four items were removed, and seven others reworded. Other suggestions included changing the tool name and including Kennedy terminal ulcer, terminal ulcer, and Skin Changes At Life's End in the EOL wound definition. In round 2, the now 13 panel members agreed with the final 16 items included and suggested minor wording changes. CONCLUSIONS: This tool could provide clinicians with an initially validated tool to accurately assess EOL wounds and gather much needed empirical prevalence data. Further research is needed to underpin accurate assessment and the development of evidence-based management strategies.

Defining and Describing Terminal Ulcers in Adults at End of Life: An Integrative Review.

OBJECTIVE: The authors identify and synthesize the published primary literature on unavoidable skin breakdown and end-of-life wounds known as terminal ulcers. DATA SOURCES: Sources were identified through a systematic search of the Cochrane Library, Medline, ProQuest, EMBASE, CINAHL complete, and PubMed databases. STUDY SELECTION: The date limiters were set between 1984 and 2020 to locate primary qualitative, quantitative, and/or mixed-methods studies on terminal ulcers. DATA EXTRACTION: Investigators examined 180 sources and ultimately included four quantitative studies in this review. All were conducted in the US and published between 1989 and 2019. Retrospective chart audits of deceased patients' medical files were undertaken in three of the studies, and prospective observations were used in the fourth. DATA SYNTHESIS: Descriptive and inductive content analyses were conducted. Three categories emerged: (1) distinguishing the ulcer development patterns, (2) identifying the ulcer characteristics, and (3) delivering specialized and individualized end-of-life care. CONCLUSIONS: Limited primary evidence has been published on terminal ulcers. Pressure injuries and terminal ulcers have similar appearances, but their development differs significantly. The lack of a specific terminal ulcer assessment tool and staging system increases the risk of these unavoidable end-of-life wounds being incorrectly assessed and managed as pressure injuries. Further research on terminal ulcers is needed to inform clinical practice and ensure specialized care is delivered to patients who develop these wounds.

Needleless connector decontamination for prevention of central venous access device infection: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Pilot randomized controlled trial (180 patients) of needleless connector decontamination. Central line-associated bloodstream infection occurred in 2% (1/61) of 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA) wipe, 2% (1/59) of 70% IPA cap, and zero (0/58) infections in 2% chlorhexidine gluconate in 70% IPA wipe patients. Larger definitive trials are feasible and needed.

Kennedy Terminal Ulcers: A Scoping Review.

Kennedy terminal ulcers, a subset of pressure injuries, are associated with the dying process. This scoping review aimed to identify and map the published literature on Kennedy terminal ulcers in terms of its definition, prevalence, assessment, treatment, management, health care costs, and quality of life for patients in all health care settings. Using the Arksey and O'Malley scoping review framework, we systematically searched the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and ProQuest databases and 5 guideline repositories between 1983 and 2018. The following search terms were used: Kennedy ulcers, Kennedy terminal ulcers, terminal ulcer, skin failure, and Skin Changes at Life's End. Data were extracted using a purposely developed data collection tool. Initial searches yielded 2997 sources, with 32 included in this review. Most Kennedy terminal ulcer literature was published by nurses in the United States. Kennedy terminal ulcer prevalence data are limited, with no validated assessment tools available. Kennedy terminal ulcers may be misclassified as pressure injuries, potentially resulting in financial penalties to the institution. This scoping review revealed significant knowledge and clinical practice gaps in patient assessment, management, and treatment of Kennedy terminal ulcers. Timely patient education may help them to make informed care and quality end-of-life decisions. Further research is needed to inform clinical practice to improve patient care.