The development of international wound debridement best practice recommendations: Consensus between nurses specialized in Wound, Ostomy and Continence Canada and the society of tissue viability.

Abstract

Debridement is an important component of wound management and can improve outcomes for patients. Debridement needs to be done by an appropriately trained health professional, but the scope of practice, credentials, training, competencies, and regulatory requirements regarding wound debridement can differ. Best Practice Recommendations were created to positively influence patient safety related to all methods of debridement, across the continuum of care, and to be implemented widely by nurses at all professional levels in Canada.

Aim: To further develop the Best Practice Recommendations for wound debridement, with an international perspective, by creating a consensus document to support the global adoption of evidence-based debridement practice for health professionals.

Methods: A consensus meeting utilising Delphi methods was conducted between the authors to review the consensus statements. Once 80 % agreement was achieved, a wide range of wound care experts were identified by the authors and invited to participate in an external review of the statements.

Results: Fifteen consensus statements about wound debridement were agreed upon and are presented in this paper.

Conclusions: These best practice recommendations have been reviewed by a wide range of practitioners from across the UK and Canada and aim to provide guidance on the standardisation of debridement practices for healthcare professionals.