Introduction
Leg ulcers affects ~1% of population (Sarkar PK, 2000). Frontline Nursing staffs often encounter patients' with leg ulcers. However, frontline nurses may not recognize those potential illness like the underlying vascular diseases which lead to those leg ulcers. Different types of leg ulcers (arterial, venous or mixed types) wounds may not be accurately identified & classified & therefore they may be improperly treated. By implementing the Leg Ulcer Management & Empowerment Program, nursing staff would be taught to gain more knowledge on leg ulcers. They would be more competent to identify and classify leg ulcers. They are encouraged to refer the leg ulcers to wound nurses and other healthcare professionals like podiatrist for assistance. They are also encouraged to inform Doctor for prompt, advance and expertise assessment and management. Thurs, the leg ulcers wounds healing prognosis, staff communication and management could be promoted and enhanced.
Objectives
- To enhance Nursing staffs' awareness & knowledge on caring patients' with leg ulcer - To promote the nursing care on leg ulcers - To promote the multidisciplinary approach on patients' with leg ulcer - To enhance frontline Nursing staffs' communication with the wound nurses
Methodology
Target participants: - Nursing Staff from Dept. of Surgery 1. Review (Feb-April 2018) 2. Process and Planning (Aug - Sept 2018) 3. Implementation (Oct - Nov 2018) - organize workshops for the designated frontline staff on leg ulcer management 4. Evaluation (Dec 2018 - Jan 2019) - evaluating effectiveness of the workshop by implementing post-test and survey (same as pre-test) - review whether the objectives of the workshop are accomplished and achieved - generate overall report of the workshop and discuss with designated WMs - determine the future direction of the program.
Results & Outcome
12 individual workshops were organized with total 50 Nursing staffs participated. After the workshops, a survey was conducted to compare the pre-test and post-test results. It was showed that there is significant improvement from the staffs in dealing patients' with leg ulcers, especially in: 1. The knowledge on ABI (improved by 30%) 2. The service and role of Occupational Therapist and Podiatrist (improved by 40%) 3. The confidence in caring patients with leg ulcers (improved by 28%) 4. The understanding of management with leg ulcers (improved by 15%) 5. The communication and cooperation between Nursing staffs and Wound Nurse (improved by 12%)
Co-location with:
