The purpose of this research study is to evaluate a patient education program for chronic wound care. The wound care nurse practitioner (NP) at the Ann Arbor VAMC will use a wound self-management "after-care summary" with approximately half of her patients. This study will examine whether using this patient education tool for self-management of wound care results in improved patient outcomes.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
The wound care NP will measure the wound and assess adherence to the following self-management activities: visiting the wound care clinic as scheduled; offloading; applying dressings; obtaining assistance at home; and participating in social activities. This information will be entered into a computer database on a VA computer that will generate a summary chart showing the relationship between adherence and wound healing. The generated "after-care summary" will be discussed with the patient and used to set self-management goals.
Patients in the control group will receive usual counseling for self-management.
VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, WA
Seattle, Washington, United States
patient satisfaction, frequency of self-management activities, time to healing
Time frame: Outcomes are measured at each participating patient's visit for one year or until the patient's wound is healed, whichever comes first.
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